

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 




MISS HOGG 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


A NOVEL 


BY 

V. C. JONES 



tX' ^ YORK : 

^ G. Di^ngham Co., Publishers, 


MDCCCC. 


TWO COPIES RECEiVEO. 

Library of Ceitgpo(|% 
Qfffoo of tb« 

APR 1 1 1900 

Ksglotor of Gopyrigbts, 




56734 

COPYBIOHT, 1900, BY 
G. W. DILLINGHAM COMPANY. 
All rights reserved. 


Miss Hogg. 


• A' / '(i;. 'VA r 

' SECOND COPY. 

V 'y J.W/ 

1 \ 
\‘^ o c> 


MISS HOGG 


CHAPTER I. 

My story opens in one of the grandest mansions in the 
west of London. Let us enter the drawing-room and make 
the acquaintance of this splendidly furnished mansion, 
with carpets so thick and soft that footsteps cannot be 
heard on them; the grand, solid, as well as ornamental 
furniture — couches, easy chairs of crimson brocade, a 
center table with cover to match chairs, a grand piano of 
ebony wood, two stools of the same, with crimson brocade 
and fringe mixed with gold ; the mantelpiece covered with 
rich crimson satin fringed with gold and crimson, and 
looped up with cord and tassels to match, and two rich 
vases filled with fiowers. A clock of black marble orna- 
ments the mantelpiece. A pier glass almost reaching to the 
ceiling, and two bronze chandeliers, one at each side, are 
very effective at night, with the cut glass pendants shining 
like diamonds. A grand chandelier with red globes and cut 
glass hangs from the middle of the ceiling. The window 
curtains are of crimson satin and rich white lace, looped 
with silken cords and tassels mixed with gold. The room 
also contains three small tables, a bookcase, a music rack, 
footstools, two fire screens — one representing a peacock, 
the other a swan. Four beautiful pictures hung on the 
walls : the coronation of Queen Victoria, her marriage with 
Prince Albert, her visit to the Emperor Napoleon in Paris, 
and the Queen presenting the late Lord Montgomery with 
the Victoria Cross on his return from the Crimean War. 
These were all framed in dark wood to match the furniture 
and grand piano. The portiere was of heavy crimson plush 
with gold fringe. 

The fire was burning brightly, for it was winter. A 
lady raised the portiere and entered the room^ leading ^ 


6 


MISS HOGG 


little girl by the hand ; she looked around as if expecting 
to find some one there, then crossing the room with a 
majestic step she seated herself on a couch near the fire, 
with the child beside her. She was not young; she must 
have been past forty; tall and dark, with lovely soft 
black eyes, refined, aristocratic features, a sweet smile on 
her handsome face. She was dressed in deep mourning. 
The little girl was about seven years of age, a lovely blonde ; 
golden hair and large blue eyes; a pink and white com- 
plexion. She, too, was in mourning, wearing a white dress 
of finest embroidery, with a black sash and shoulder rib- 
bons, black patent leather shoes with black bows; a black 
ribbon kept back the curls from her lovely face. Her arms 
were bare and her dress decollete. She made a very pretty 
picture. 

Having described them, let me introduce them by name 
to my readers. The lady is Lady Montgomery, the owner 
of this mansion ; she is a widow ; has been for some years. 
She has a son, a captain in the army, though only twenty- 
one years old. The little girl by her side is her niece, who 
has just been left an orphan, as the following conversation 
will show. 

Drawing the child affectionately towards her. Lady 
Montgomery said: ‘'^My dear Florence, I hope you will 
be very happy here with me and your cousin Percival; 
I will be a mother to you, and if God answers my pra3^er 
you will be PercivaFs wife some day ; it was your mother’s 
wish as well as my own.” She said this to herself more 
than to the child, and making her stand before her, she 
kissed her affectionately and continued: ^Tt is easy to 
see that blue blood runs in your veins ; you are the image 
of your dear mother, my dear; you look "just as she did at 
your age. Poor Eleonore ! But I am making 3^ou sad, my 
love.” 

^^0 dear aunty, to think that I shall never see dear 
mamma again!” and she hid her face on her aunt’s 
shoulder, who allowed her to weep for a few minutes; 
then, kissing her, she bade her sit beside her and said to 
her: 

^Wipe your eyes, dear, I am going to send for your 
cousin Percival.” 

She rang the bell; a neat looking servant, wearing a 


THE a:merican heiress 


1 


white cap and small white apron, in the pockets of which 
she held her hands, appeared, and waited to receive her 
orders. Lady Montgomery turning to her said, ^^Is Captain 
Montgomery in? If so, let him know that I want to see 
him as soon as possible.^^ 

^^Yes, my lady,^^ said Sarah with a curtsy, and left 
the room. 

Lady Montgomery rose, went to a side table, picked up 
a good sized parcel and came back to lier niece. Opening 
the parcel, she presented her witli the contents — a beautiful 
French doll with a complete trousseau. 

^^0, how lovely !” cried the child, ^^and how good of 
you, dear aunt}^, to have bought it ! May I undress it 
]ust as I please?^’ 

^^Yes, dear, it is yours to do as you wish with, and I 
know that I can trust you not to break it.^^ 

^‘0, I shall not break it ; I love it too much. She has 
hair just like mine, and blue eyes; yours are black, and 
your hair is so black and wavy, better than mine.^^ 

^^0, you little flatterer, laughed Lady Montgomery, 
and, looking up, she saw her son, who had entered un- 
noticed, and who hastened to say: 

^^Good morning, my dear mother, I hope you will for- 
give me for keeping you waiting. How are you after your 
journey, and what a pretty fairy you have brought back.’^ 
Approaching his mother, he kisses her hand, and then 
addressing his cousin, says, don’t suppose you remem- 
ber me, Florence, for it is more than two years since I 
have seen you; you have grown wonderfully.” Seating 
himself by her side, he made her stand up to have a better 
view of her, and she looked shyly through her curls, 
smiled sweetly at him, and said, 

do remember you, cousin Percival, but you had no 
mustaches then ; I like you better with a mustache.” 

He laughed merrily, and, bending down, kissed her 
on the forehead, saying, ^^Do you know that you are a 
little flatterer, as I heard my mother say as T entered?” 
Then turning to his mother, he said, smiling, ^^She’s 
lovely; it’s well, dear mother, that she’s still a baby, for 
were she grown up you would not keep her long.” 

His mother smiled and thought, he has fallen in 

love with her at first sight.” But she only said, ^^Dear 


MISS 


8 

Percival, 1 sent for you to have a long talk with you on 
matters of the greatest importance. Kindly ring the bell.^^ 

Having complied with his mother’s request, he waited 
uneasily as he thought, do hope that my mother has 
not heard about the colonel, but that is almost impossible. 
Who could have told her?” So he only said, am all 
attention, dear mother, pray proceed.” 

The maid appeared, and Lady Montgomery, rising, took 
Florence by the hand, and leading her to the maid said, 
^^Take Miss De La Eochefoucauld to her nurse.” Florence 
handed her doll to the maid, ran back to kiss her aunt, 
and, holding out her pretty white hand to her cousin 
with a smile and a bend of her lovely head, left the room. 

^^What a grand and lovely woman she will be one day,” 
remarked Percival. 

^^You are right, my son, and it is about her, and for 
the purpose of discussing her future and yours also, that 
I have sent for you this morning. Sit down, Percival, 
and listen to what I have to say.” 

The captain took a chair and sitting down facing his 
mother, who had returned to the couch, he waited, quite 
at a loss to understand what she could have to discuss con- 
cerning the little girl. Had she been a grown up young 
lady he would have jumped to the conclusion that his 
mother wished him to marry his cousin; but she was 
only a baby, as he had previously remarked; so he only 
said, am all attention, dear mother, pray proceed.” 

^^My dear Percival,” said his mother, am going to 
explain to you my plans and wishes, which were also those 
of my late dear sister, your Aunt Eleonore, my favorite 
sister, who, ten years ago, married Lord De La Eochefou- 
cauld, one of the greatest noblemen in France — blue blood, 
my dear, as good as ours. Two years ago, as you are 
aware, since you attended his funeral, he was thrown 
from his horse and instantly killed, without a last word to 
his dear wife and child. From that time my sister’s health 
failed, for she loved him more than her own life. It had 
been a love match. What a grand, noble looking man 
he was ! it seems to me that I can see him now. He was 
so courteous and refined in all his movements; a little 
more gushing than we English people are — ^the Frencli 
always are. He was a lion among tlie ladies, and when 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


9 


he began to pay his addresses to my sister she was envied 
by all. They were a handsome pair, loved each other de- 
votedly and were proud of each other — he so tall and dark, 
and she with her golden hair and lovely blue eyes, her 
head just reaching to his shoulder. 0 how I do love to 
remember those happy times ! Sometimes I think it 
cannot be, that it is impossible;^" and the countess raised 
her lace handkerchief to her eyes. ^^My poor sister, how 
different was our last meeting ! 

^TOiowing that she was soon to rejoin her beloved hus- 
band she sent for me. 0, how changed she was ! — so thin 
and pale, and yet she had a bright, hopeful look in her 
deep blue eyes as she said to me, Tf it were not for my 
darling Florence I would be glad to go ; but you will take 
care of her and be a mother to her; she will be happier with 
you and Percival than she could have been with me, for 
my heart was broken when I lost my beloved husband; 
he was my joy, my pride, my happiness, my all. Why 
were we parted ? 0, my love, my love, I shall soon be 

with you ! I feel that you want me as I want you," and she 
buried her face in her pillows and sobbed till her delicate 
•form shook. 

allowed her to weep for a few minutes, then, taking 
her thin white hand in mine, and laying my head on her 
pillow, I said, softly, ^My dear Eleonore, don"t you wish 
to live for little Florence"s sake?" She replied : ^No, Laura, 
no; her life would be too sad with me; she will be better 
off with you; I give her to you, and if she could only be 
your daughter one day I should die happy. Promise me 
that you will do all in your power to unite your son to 
my daughter. She is young, but so is Percival — only 
about thirteen years older than she. It is not good for 
a man to marry young, and my darling is worth waiting 
for." 

promised; I could not refuse her last request, and as 
far as I am concerned it would give me happiness; so I 
promised v/illingly and sincerely, and I had the satisfaction 
of seeing my dear sister pass away with a smile on her face, 
holding my hand and that of her child in hers. Her eyes 
opened and her face looked radiant as she said, trying to 
sit up, T am going ; my husband has come for me ; I want 
to go/ And she disengaged her hands from ours and 


10 


MISS HOGG 


fell back on her pillows dead. She was so glad to go that 
after the first shock I could hardly regret her, much as I 
loved her; her heart was with her husband in heaven. 

^^ISTow, Percival, I have told you all that passed between 
us. What say you, my son? Will you keep your heart 
free and pure for this pretty child? She will be a great 
beauty one day, and, as my sister said, well worth waiting 
for. Her fortune is larger than ours. I only hope that 
she v/ill love you, for she shall not be forced or coaxed into 
a marriage in which her heart is not; it must be of her 
own free will. What say you, my dear Percival? Don^t 
decide at once. Take your tiriie,^^ she added, as she saw a 
cloud on her son^s face. 

^^My dearest mother, you have taken me by surprise; 
I was not prepared for this. She is only a child and I 
am a man nearly twenty-one years old; I should have 
to wait so long.^^ 

^^Do you love anyone else?^^ asked his mother. 
have never seen 3 ^ou pay marked attention to any particu- 
lar lady of our set.^^ 

mother dear, my heart is free.^^ 

At this answer his mothePs face cleared, and she said, 
smilingly, ^^Then keep it so ; it is all I ask of you.^^ 

The captain^s face was still clouded as he thought: 

might wait for my cousin, for I am in no hurry to 
marry; but I must have money, — I cannot wait so long; 
and I cannot tell my mother that I have signed that I. 0. 
IT. for thirty thousand pounds to oblige the colonel. How 
was I to know that he was a ruined man ? I should have ask- 
ed my mother’s advice ; it will break her heart if she finds it 
out, for she trusts me so completely and hates deceit in any- 
one, she is so frank and honorable herself.” 

^AVell, my son, have you nothing pleasant to say to me ? 
Will you not try to love your cousin and to think of your- 
self as an engaged man? It would please me.” 

^AVell, dear mother, do not let us talk any more about 
it for the present; there is plenty of time. I vdll do all 
in my power to please you. Are you going to Lady Join- 
ville’s ball to-night?” 

^^Yes, dear,' though I do not care for balls, and having 
lost my sister only three months ago makes me less inclined 
to go, thoiigh she died in Paris and is almost forgotten 


TII]S AMERICAN HEIRESS 


11 


here. Dear Lady Melrose has been taken ill — not danger- 
ously — still, so that she is unable to go, and has sent 
to ask me if I would chaperon her daughters, and I have 
not refused. You will be there, of course?’^ 

^^Yes, I must go; our colonel will be there, and a lot 
of us young fellows. It will be a grand affair, I believe. 
We are to meet an American heiress; it will be fine fun 
for us, for it is really amusing to hear the American 
girls ask the gentlemen they dance with if they have a 
title, and ^fif not, who has, for I guess I shan^t want for 
an offer from a real lord with all my money and the 
captain laughed merrily, mimicking the nasal accent of 
the American women. 

The countess did not laugh, for she despised vulgarity. 
She said with dignity, ^^Now, Percival, please donT repeat 
to me all the vulgar sayings of those American girls to you 
gentlemen. I cannot understand how their money can 
give them the entrance to our circle. I believe that the titled 
roues of our country are accountable for it ; they cannot get 
our daughters, and so marry the daughters of the parvenus 
for their money and introduce them among us, and they, 
in their turn, invite their friends and relations, so that our 
circle is no longer select and exclusive as it was, and there 
is no degree of comfort for us who belong to the oldest 
aristocracy in England.^^ 

^^You are right, my dear mother; I understand your 
feelings and I sympathize with you. It is certainly very 
humiliating for you to have a person of that kind intro- 
duced to you, and have to parry her impertinent questions 
v/ith a polite nod, a smile, and, when the question is 
too pointed, a slight elevation of the eyebrows, which, 
however, sometimes does not suffice, for in their own 
country they are used to plain speaking; then nothing 
remains for you but to rise from your seat and say with 
a smile, T hope you will excuse me, I see a friend to whom 
I wish very much to speak,^ and with a slight bow you cross 
the room and find a seat as far as possible from this inquisi- 
tive young lady and her vulgar mamma, and you cannot see 
any fun in it. But we young fellows pocket our dignity 
for the time being for the sake of the fun they furnish 
us, and then as we have no establishments of our own they 
cannot expect invitations from us, so we keep up the farce 


n 


lioaa 


of being appropriated by them just as long as it suits tig. 
But I can assure you that they meet a man more than half 
way ; there no sh3aiess on their part. I have actually 
heard some of them ask a gentleman to take them for 
a ride in the park^ though they had met that night for 
the first time. Just think of our English ladies making 
such a request even of an old acquaintance ! Why, they 
would be cut by all their acquaintances. But to return 
to this American heiress. We expect a lot of fun with 
her ; she is one of the brazen sort and has come to conquer 
a real live lord, and she will not stop at trifles.^^ And 
Captain Montgomery laughed merrily at the fun he antici- 
pated. 

The countess smiled and looked admiringly at her son. 
He was handsome enough to turn the head of a far better 
woman than the American heiress, and she hoped that he 
would never become the prey of such a designing person; 
she knew that it was dangerous to play with fire, that some 
of those American girls had good looks, though very little 
refinement; so she said, ^Well, my son, be careful and doiTt 
mix with them more than politeness requires.^^ 

^^All right, mother dear, don’t fear for me. I must 
be going, for I am on duty at the barracks till four, so I 
will not see you again until we meet at Lady Joinville’s 
ball. Good by.” And kissing his mother, he left the room. 


'aJHE AMERICA]^ HEIRESS 


13 


CHAPTEK II. 

The morning after the ball Lady Montgomery came 
into the dining room in a rich but plain negligee, and^ ring- 
ing the bell, ordered breakfast to be served. Just as her 
son came in the countess dismissed the servants, as she 
wished to be alone with her son. 

As soon as they had left the room the captain wished 
his mother good morning, led her to the table, and, helping 
her to what he knew she liked best, said to the countess, 
who had '‘not yet spoken and who looked displeased, ^^My 
dear mother, have I offended you? What have I done? 
Is it about last night's affair ?^^ 

^^Yes, Percival ; I am very much displeased with you. 
How could you introduce that American girl to me, your 
mother? You have failed in the respect that you owe me. 
I could not make a scene; I had to give her my hand 
when she held out hers to me, and I thought that my arm 
was coming off ; she tore the lace off my sleeve, and I still 
have a pain in my shoulder. I cannot understand how 
such people can be tolerated in good society.^^ 

^^My dear mother, I am really sorry, but I could not 
help it. Had I not brought her to you she would have 
come alone, for as soon as the colonel told her that I 
was Lord Montgomery she never left me a moment, to 
the great amusement of my brother officers, who encour- 
aged her, and I believe that some one must have pointed 
you out to her as my mother, for, slapping me on the 
shoulder, she said, ^Excuse me a moment, Mr. Captain 
Lord Montgomery, I am going to make your mother’s ac- 
quaintance;’ and she was marching away when I followed 
her and said, ^Certainly, I will introduce you,’ thinking 
it best to go with her since I could not prevent her coming 
to you; and you know that I led her away as soon as 
politeness permitted my doing so. The musicians just be- 
ginning a waltz gave me the excuse for inviting her to 
dance with me. May I never have such a partner again ; it 
is well that I have no corns, for she trod on my feet five or 


14 


MISS HOCa 


six times. Her feet are immense ; she must wear a number 
six or seven shoe. She was displeased at having had so 
little time to talk to you, and I am sorry to have to tell 
you that she has invited herself here, and most probably 
will come to-day.^^ 

^^0, this is all very dreadful,^^ said the countess. ^^Why 
did she not take to the colonel or the major? They are 
handsome men/^ 

^^Yes, my dear mother, more so than I am; but you 
see they are older and not likely to be so easily caught 
as a young fellow like me. I see no other reason.'’^ 

^^Well, my dear Percival, I hope she will know the 
customs of society well enough not to call before twelve 
o’clock.^’ 

The countess had barely finished speaking ^when a 
loud ringing was heard at the front door, and soon after 
a voice to match it was heard in the hall saying to the 
servants, ^^0, doiiT trouble to announce me, I am a great 
friend of Lord Captain Montgomery and his mother, 
and I guess they have n’t forgotten Miss Hogg of Brooklyn, 
Hew York ; they are expecting me and have everything in 
apple-pie order in my honor ; and I shan’t disgrace them. 
I have been up since five o’clock trying all my dresses 
on to see which suited best; they are sure to be pleased 
with me. Don’t you think I ’ll do ?” turning to one of 
the maids, who wore a more frightened than admiring 
look. 

The footman grinned and told the parlor maid that she 
had better tell her mistress what grand lady had come 
to see her. 

^^0,” said Miss Hogg, ^^just show me the room and I 
won’t trouble anyone to announce me.” 

The maid had taken the footman’s advice and was 
running upstairs, but Miss Hogg was not far behind; in 
fact, she arrived at the door as soon as the maid did, and, 
pushing her aside before she could say a word, advanced 
into the room, saying, ^^Good morning. Lord Captain, 
good morning, ma’am. I see you are at breakfast. Well, 
I guess I won’t bother you to get up to receive me ; I ’ll take 
a chair myself and have a bit6 with you. I took sd long to 
dress and put on all these jewels that I had no time to eat. 
I was afraid of being late.” 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


15 


The captain had turned pale when he heard Miss 
Hogg in the hall, and her unceremonious entrance into 
the room did not add to his composure; he felt it more 
for his mother’s sake than for his oayii. 

Lady Montgomery looked at Miss Hogg in a calm, 
dignified manner and said very coolly, ^^Good morning, 
Miss Hogg. Allow me to ring for a plate. What will you 
take, tea or coffee?” 

^^0, I ain’t particular ; I ’ll take some o’ these here 
muffins and a piece o’ that there pie; is it pork pie? 0, 
it’s game pie, is it? Well, I guess I’ll like it; also 
some o’ them eggs and bacon. Ham, did you say. Captain 
Lord Montgomery ? Well, I ’ll take a couple o’ slices — 
nice and thick, if you don’t mind; and I would like some 
milk in my coffee. Have you no milk in England ?” 

Lady Montgomery passed her the cream in silence. 

Miss Hogg, taking the jug, contemplated the contents 
in a very doubtful manner and said, ^‘Dear me, this must 
be custard. Well, I guess it’s the fashion in England. 
Funny taste these here lords have, but I reckon I shall 
have to get used to their ways, so here goes.” And, taking 
the jug by the handle, she poured the cream into her 
tea ; but the cream being rather thick it came with a splash 
which sent her tea like rain all over the table, some of it 
into her eyes, which she began to rub with her left hand, 
while the right one was still pouring the cream into 
her tea, which was overflowing the cup and saucer, and 
cream and tea ran like a rivulet on the snowy tablecloth 
among the dishes. 

Had the captain been alone he would have had a good 
laugh, but as it was, he only smiled, while his mother 
looked ready to faint; still she managed to say, hope, 
Miss Hogg, that you have not injured your eyes.” 

Miss Hogg removed her hand from her eyes, saw 
what mischief she had been doing, and exclaimed, ^^Well, 
did you ever see such a slob ? And all the custard is gone, 
too.” 

^^Hever mind the cream,” said the captain, ringing 
for more, ^T)ut I am sorry for you. Is your eye painful ?” 

^Well, rather, but I guess it will be all right in a jiffy.” 
The servant app^^r^d and lyady Montgomery ordere4 


16 


MISS HOGG 


her to bring more cream^ which she did, without the 
slightest look of surprise at the mess on the table. 

Miss Hogg changed her seat at the table, getting nearer 
to the captain. She laughed aloud at the mishap, say- 
ing, ^^Well, after that, I think I ’ll wind up with one o’ 
them there glass kittles o’ jelly. But you don’t eat, either 
of you; as for me, I have a fine appetite. Why don’t you 
try some o’ this here jelly. Captain Lord Montgomery?” — 
elbowing the captain and laughing at her own joke. 

The captain refused politely, pushing back his chair. 

Lady Montgomery saw that it was time for her to come 
to her son's rescue, so she said, ^‘My dear Percival, I will 
not detain you any longer, and I am sure that Miss 
Hogg will excuse you when she knows that you are on 
duty at the barracks to-day, and you will be late if we 
detain you.” 

The captain taking the hint, rose, buckled on his sword, 
and, turning to Miss Hogg, said, with a bow, am really 
sorry. Miss Hogg, to have to leave you, but duty before 
pleasure.” And turning to his mother, he said, ''Au revoir, 
my dear mother,” bowing respectfully. 

He turned to leave the room, but Miss Hogg had no in- 
clination to let him go so easily; she had come to see 
him, and she would stick to him, as she expressed it. She 
jumped up in a hurry, upsetting her chair and bringing 
down her plate, cup, and saucer, having caught her foot in 
the tablecloth, ran up to him before he had reached the 
door, and, as her mouth was full of jelly, which prevented 
her from talking, she caught him by the arm, then having 
swallowed her jelly in a hurry, managed to say: ^^Exeuse 
me, Mr. Captain Lord Montgomery, but I had hoped 
to have a drive with you in Eegent’s Park. If you think 
that you ’ll come back in time I guess I ’ll wait for you. I 
ain’t got nothing to do, 3'^ou know. I come here right from 
America to see the real lords and ladies, and I mean 
to see them. I guess if I stick to you I ’ll see all I want ; 
but I ain’t going back like a fool for my friends to think 
that with all my money I could n’t dress fine enough to 
mix with them ; I shan’t, there now ! And you are my 
friend. I know that you will help me and be proud to bo 
seen with such a finely dressed lady. I shan’t disgrace you. 
I have better dresses than even tHa here one, Ha, ha, ha ! 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 17 

Don't 3 ^ou think* I ^]1 do, Mrs. Montgomery? — I mean. 
Lady Captain Montgomery — 

But Lady Montgomery did not answer, she felt so 
shocked at her free way of addressing and detaining her 
son, who said, with a smile: am really sorry. Miss 

Hogg, but I shall be on duty all day ; you have no idea how 
busy we are, we young fellows. But I have no doubt that I 
shall have the pleasure of seeing you again before you leave 
England. How I must really go; you cannot imagine 
how very sorry I feel to have to leave your society; it is 
so agreeable.’^ 

"‘I knew you were a trump,’’ said Miss Hogg, smiling 
in liis face, and shaking his hand most violently, ‘^and if 
you must go I suppose you must; but I hope it won’t bo 
long before you can give up that soldiering.” 

The captain left the room with a slight flush on his 
handsome face. He had expected fun, and was really 
willing to have fun with the American heiress; but he 
had not expected such an open fire, and to be pressed so 
closely and vigorously at her first sortie. 

When he arrived at the barracks his brother officers 
joked him about his conquest of the previous night. But 
when he related what had passed that morning every one 
laughed so heartily and so long that he thought they would 
never stop ; he himself joined in the laugh more than once ; 
and those who had not yet seen the heiress swore that they 
would cut him out; they must certainly be introduced to- 
iler. 

^^By Jove!” said Captain Brown, must have my 
share of the fun. How does she look ? Is she at all passable ?” 

^^0, yes,” said the major, ^^as far as animal beauty goes.” 

^^What do you mean by animal beauty ?” asked Captain 
Brown. 

mean that she is well enough physically, but she has 
no mental refinement, no delicacy of feeling; a gentleman 
could never be happy with a person of her caliber — always 
talking of her money. Give me good blood before money. 
And to think that some of our set marry in those American 
families — sell themselves, so to speak. A title fetches a 
good price in America, though they pretend not to care 
for aristocratic grandeur; it is all sham; they would give 
their skin to have a handU tq their names.. I have been. 


18 


MISS HOGG 


among them and I know their weakness.; they are coarse, 
upstart beggars, and when one of our set is unfortunate 
enough to be caught by them you may expect a divorce 
in two or three years at most. They quarrel like barmaids ; 
some of them have actually struck their husbands. I^ow, 
we gentlemen can’t bear that, you know. I have always 
said, and I repeat it, let every one marry in his own 
sphere of life if he wishes to have peace and happiness.” 

^^You are right, major; I agree with you; and I must 
say that I have seen pretty American girls who seemed well 
enough behaved and might make a man happy if he could 
take the girl and leave all her family behind,” said an 
old colonel, who had been in America, and had been feasted 
but not caught by the title-hunters. can assure you,” he 
continued, ^ht must be most unpleasant for a gentleman 
when among his friends to feel a heavy hand slapping him 
on the shoulder, and a coarse voice sounding in his ears, 
Tdello, colonel, is that you? I guess you dont know me; 
I be your wife’s uncle, and though not quite so spruce as 
she is it was us that made the mone}^ — her father and me ;’ 
and you may turn round to find yourself facing a coarse 
looking fellow with at least three days’ growth of beard 
on his face and a short pipe in his mouth; a limp collar 
and a red tie, no gloves, a bright new suit, and unpolished 
shoes. Just think of such a vision in the midst of your 
aristocratic friends, and tell me if you can be happy 
with your American wife. A"et he may be a worthy man, 
and if he made his money honestly he is to be respected, but 
he can never be happy nor at his ease w^itli us any more 
than we can be with him; so I say, with the major, let 
every one marry in his own sphere. Money makes no dif- 
ference; it is blood, the race; there is a barrier between 
the two that can never be passed with impunity on either 
side. So be careful. Lord Montgomery, how you play 
with fire, for those Americans are real intriguers, and they 
spread rumors that the}" are engaged as soon as a gentle- 
man pays them a mere compliment, thinking that it 
will advance their cause ; the papers take it up and a long 
paragraph appears saying, ^Another of our i\.merican beau- 
ties engaged to an English peer. We may in the future 
have a king in England, a descendant of one of our Ameri- 
can girls,’ and so on, They imagine that if their name 


TIIE AMEIilCAi^ 


Id 

is coupled with that of a gentleman and mentioned publicly 
he will not dare draw back. Then conies the vulgar father 
or brother^ bragging of the handsome dowry he intends to 
give his girl when she marries. If the gentleman is 
poor he is talked and dragged into matrimony before he 
has time to reflect; and before the honeymoon is over 
he awakens to the fact that he has wrecked his life; and 
though his friends are still pleased to see him they make 
him feel that his wife is not wanted, and that it is not 
enough for a man to marry to please himself, but that 
he must marry to please his friends or he cuts himself loose 
from them. And the poor, foolish, low-born American girl, 
instead of having become a lady as she had expected, finds 
herself snubbed and looked down upon, and if she has the 
entrance to some good houses it is for her husband’s sake 
and not for her own. She is simply tolerated. She will 
hear ladies discuss their ancestors, their relatives; she 
must sit still and listen ; she dare not speak of hers ; even if 
they have been good and honest she feels ashamed to claim 
them. 

^^So it is no wonder that trouble comes of such unions. 
And how painful for the parents of such a girl to know 
that they are looked down upon by the daughter whom 
they have done so much to raise so far above themselves ! 
Far better for her and them if she had married a police- 
man and stayed with her people, enjoying their money 
in their own vulgar way. They would, at least, not look 
down on each other. So, I repeat, marry in your own 
sphere. Never make the mistake of marrying above or 
beneath you, or you will lose all chance of happiness. 
Now I am done; I will not moralize any more. Don’t let 
yourselves be caught, young fellows. Have fun, but do 
keep at a distance.” 

^AVell,” said Lord Montgomery, ^^you have certainly 
given us a long sermon. Colonel Mortimer, and if any of 
us young fellows are caught you certainly will not be to 
blame. I wonder how my mother is going to manage to get 
rid of Miss Hogg.” 

^^My dear boy, don’t let that trouble }^ou; Lady Mont- 
gomery, with her grand, calm way, will soon make her feel 
her disapprobation of her conduct towards you, and the 
consequence will be that Miss Hogg will have to beat a 


llOGd 


20 

retreat at a double quick march/’ At which speech evety 
one laughed. 

Lord Montgomery^ looking at his watch^ said, must 
go to visit the posts ; will you come with me, major?” 

^^With pleasure,” answered the major, ^Ve can discuss 
your late conquest, ha, ha, ha !” and he linked arms with 
Lord Montgomery. They walked away while the others 
remained in the mess room playing billiards, discussing 
the latest news, and planning future pleasures. 


illE AMt^RlCAN HEIRlilSS 


21 


ghaptUe Hi. 

After Lord Montgomery's departure Miss Hogg walk- 
ed back to a seat near Lady Montgomery, who had left the 
table in disgust after Miss Hogg’s last mishap, and was 
now sitting near one of the jardinieres which ornamented 
the dining room. The servants were clearing the debris of 
the plate, cup, and saucer which Miss Hogg had brought 
down in her hurry to prevent the captain from leaving 
her. 

Miss Hogg, after having settled herself to her satisfac- 
tion, turned towards Lady Montgomery and began, re- 
gardless of the presence of the servants : ‘^^Mrs. — no, I 

mean Lady Captain Montgomery, you have a fine young 
man for your son, but donT you think he is rather cool? 
I am told that all Englishmen are so. They ain’t so in 
Brooklyn ; they ’re awfully fresh. Why, my father’s coach- 
man tried to make love to me, saying that his dad knew 
mine when they were boys working at the same jobs; but 
you bet I sent him to the right-about in a jiffy^ and told 
him that my dad had made a fortune and his dad died a 
stable boy, and that I would tell my pa about him if he 
was so sassy again, for, as my ma says, ^Mamie dear, with 
all your money I guess you shan’t marry nothing less than 
a lord,’ and I don’t mean to. Don’t you think I ’m right ? 
How, between us, I must tell you that the captain is just 
the kind of fellow I like. You might give him a hint, you 
know, for I guess he ’s shy on account of my money, and 
he’s scared that I might refuse him, but I shan’t, and I 
don’t care nothing for money; it ’s a title I ’m on the look- 
out for; it sounds so grand to be called my lady, don’t you 
think so? You ain’t very rich, are you? I guess you can’t 
be, for your dress is so plain. Just look at me; ain’t I 
smart ? Don’t you wish you could dress like me ? But you 
shan’t want for nothing when I ’m married to the captain.” 

Lady Montgomery had not answered so far, and Miss 
Hogg seemed so busy with her plans that the silence 
had not seemed strange to her. 


22 MISS itGoa 

By this time the servants had put the room in order, 
and Miss Hogg continued: like you because you are 

so quiet; I guess I could do anything I please with you. 
.Now that we h-e alone I kl just as lief tell you all about 
my folks and how 1 come to be an heiress. Of course 
you ^re longing to know, ain’t you ?” putting her hand on 
Lady Montgomery’s shoulder in a free and easy manner. 

Lady Montgomery’s face clouded at the insult, and, 
rising, with a calm, dignified air, she said, with a slight 
touch of contempt in her voice: ‘^^Miss Hogg, I hojDe 3^011 
will excuse me ; I am very much fatigued this morning, and 
far from ivell ; I shall have to leave you. I intend shortly 
to give a party in honor of my niece and I will send you an 
invitation if you are still in England. I wish you good 
morning. Miss Hog^,” with a slight bow. 

But Miss Hogg did not take the hint ; she only stared 
at Lady Montgomery with her mouth half open and 
answered, ^^Good morning, ma’am,” but never moved an 
inch, not even understanding that she was dismissed. 

Lady Montgomer}" waited a moment, and seeing that 
her words had had no effect on the American lad}-, who 
only smiled, she continued : ^^Should you require anything 
I hope you will ring; I will give orders to the servants. 
You look fatigued; pray rest yourself; do not hurry. I 
shall be pleased to hear your family history when I feel 
equal to the task, but not to-day.” AncJ bending her 
proud head lightl}^ she sailed out of the room, to the 
great astonishment and admiration of Miss Hogg — aston- 
ishment at being cut short and prevented from relating 
her family histor}q and admiration at the grand, noble 
way in w^hich the countess walked out of the room. 

When she recovered from her surprise she exclaimed, 
‘^AVell, I never ! I thought she would be glad to know all 
about her future daughter-in-law; but, poor thing, if she 
ain’t well, she can’t help it. I like her; she looks fine; 
how she walks ! She looks like a queen. How I wish that 
1 could walk like her ! But I guess that when I am married 
to Lord Captain Montgomery I shall feel altogether differ- 
ent from what I do now. But now I must think how to toll 
her all about my folks, beginning with my grandfather on 
my father’s side. 

^^Well, my grandfather was a peddler; he was cute, and 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


23 


as he used to say : ^Tt takes a sharp one to make a fortune in 
iVmerica^ but 1 calculate I have the stuff in me^, for I 
was never over particular whom I skinned^ for you must 
know that I was raised in the street. I had a father and a 
mother, but my father went out drinking and my mother 
out washing, and us young ones were around the street 
all day long. It ’s quite the style in America ; it ain’t no 
disgrace. I used to go along with a gang of fellows, all 
3 ^oung rogues. I guess I was no worse than they were, only 
smarter. When the vegetable marketman turned his 
head I ’d cram my pockets full of whatever came under 
]ny hands, and when he turned round all the other boys 
would halloo ^^Cheese it,” and run away; and I would 
stand my ground and look at the man so quiet and simple- 
like, never budging one step, and, pointing to the biggest 
boy who run the fastest, I v/ould say, half crying, ^^It 
ain’t me, but that there boy, the big one; his pockets are 
full of apples and pears.” Then the grocer man would cut 
away after them for all he was worth, while I stayed and 
grabbed a handful of cash from the till. Then waiting 
till he came back I ’d halloo to him, ^W^ell, boss, did you 
catch him? ’Tain’t right to be a thief, is it?” ^^No, my 
lad, always be a good chap and tell me when you see any 
of those rogues about my place;” and wiping his hot face 
on the sleeve of his blouse he would give me a handful of 
old strawberries, which I would chuck away as soon as I 
had turned the corner; and, going a roundabout way, I 
would soon rejoin the other fellows and we would go on a 
spree v.dth the money — sometimes to the theater or to 
Coney Island, according to the season. Well, to make a 
long story short, as I grew up I was just as cute. I went 
peddling in the big flats, and if the owners happened to bo 
out I grabbed all that came handy. Jewelry I preferred; 
that ’s not stealing. V/hy should them people have jewelry 
and not me? To take what we can from people is what 
you call in America a sharp lad who will be a millionaire 
some day.’ And so my grand dad proved the truth of the 
old saying, and, as he said, W^ell, I got on amazingly ; in a 
few years I had saved fifty thousand dollars, and now I 
hardly know what I have.’ My grandpa was a smart man 
and a handsoine man. They say I tak^ after fliip for 
beauty and cuteness. 


24 


MISS HOGG 


^^'Now for my grandma: I have heard her say she 
was a baby farmer, as they are called there. She began 
;business in a small cottage, but soon had a large establish- 
ment, as she said, by keeping her mouth shut and her eyes 
open. They were well matched and agreed prime. They 
never had but one boy — my father. How they managed 
no one knows but themselves; anyhow, TainT none o’ my 
business, so I shan’t bother about it. They were a smart 
and handsome couple and I ’m proud of them. 

^^On my mother’s side I ’m almost ashamed to tell 
what they were. I ’ve been told by my father that they 
were a pair of fools — nothing else. They had a farm in 
the West and kept cows, horses, pigs and hens, and worked 
like slaves to bring up their eleven children, who, in their 
turn, worked and slaved to raise theirs — except my mother, 
who married my father and was made a lady for life, and 
ain’t got nothing to do but help to spend his money, which 
he has in plenty, for he has made his share. He took 
after his father, and was cute, and none of them jimjam 
fellows. He received an elegant education, and he soon 
got a tiptop place in a bank and then got to be manager, 
and he managed so well that the bank failed in less than a 
year, and he was so disgusted that he said he would never 
take another position, but live like a gentleman, and he 
has kept his word ever since, and I calc’late lie shan’t begin 
no business now. And my heart ! when I bring him Lord 
Montgomery for a son-in-law he’ll be as proud as a pig 
with two tails. 0, but won’t all the Brooklyn girls be 
mad when they see me marching home with my handsome 
lord? They’re awfully fresh, the girls in Brooklyn, and 
I ’ll have no end of trouble to keep them away from my 
husband. 

^^But surely it must be late. Well, I never ! It ’s past 
two o’clock, and the captain has n’t yet come back, nor his 
ma neither. Well, I’ll wait a little longer; but I must 
have something to eat; I feel weak.” She rang the bell 
violently and a servant appeared. Miss Hogg said in a 
loud voice : want my dinner. Bring me a leg of mutton, 
some beefsteak and onions, potatoes, cabbage, and a couple 
of sour pickles — ^big ones; and for dessert, some Washing- 
ton pie, a can of lager beer, ice cream, and chewing gum ; 
and be quick about it for I’m famished. Why do you 


If'lIE AMERlOAi^ liElRESS 25 

stand tliore Avith your month open like a stuck pig? 1 
guess you ain’t used to all them there nice things. VV elk- 
maybe you ain’t got so much in the house, but bring me 
whatever you have. Skedaddle^ and be back in the twink- 
ling of a bedpost. I ’m near dying with hunger.’^ 

The servant, looking puzzled, left the room^ and going 
to the kitchen told the cook what was expected of her for 
the American lady. The cook grew red in the face with in- 
dignation, saying that she was used to cook for the gentry 
and not for the like of her. The footman and other men 
servants, as well as the maids, laughed heartily at the 
menu of Miss Hogg’s dinner and the anger of the cook. 

^^Come, cook,^^ said the footman, ‘^^you will have to 
send something up. My lady left orders, you know.'"’ 

suppose I must, but I wonder that my lady did n’t 
show her the door as soon as she came in.” 

^AVell, my lady knows best,” said the parlor maid. 
^^She left her in the dining room, thinking that she would 
soon leave, but it appears that she has made up her mind 
to wait for Lord Montgomery.” 

^^And I positively know,” said the coachman, ^That 
you will have orders from my lady not to admit her again.” 

^AVell, take her that,” said the cook to the parlor maid, 
handing her a tray well laden with a cold fowl, oystei 
pie, salad, a small white loaf, butter, a strawberry pie, a 
decanter of port wine, a glass, and a napkin, which the 
maid took and placed on the table before Miss Hogg, who 
said: 

^^Well, I shall be able to make a slight luncheon with 
them there things. I^et me see what it is. 0, chicken ; I ’ll 
begin with that;” and taking her, knife and fork she cut 
it in half, regardless of the bones. Opening the oyster 
pie, she smelled it. ^^0, that’s oyster pie; well, I think 
I ’ll mix a little of this here oyster pie with the chicken. 
What a funny taste these lords and ladies have ! And what ’s 
this here white thing? A handkerchief ! Well, I do declare ! 
Do they want to insult me ? I ’ve got one, and much 
finer, for this is coarse and so large. In America we have 
handkerchiefs just big enough to hold between our finger 
and thumb, and it ’s an awful business wlien we have a 
cold; but I ain’t got a cold, so I don’t want that there 
Englisli handkerchief;” and she b(^gan to eat, making a 


MISS iioGa 


S(i 

dreadful face at the peculiar taste of the mixture she 
had made, but she washed it down with several glasses 
of port wine, which she seemed to relish; and the straw- 
berry pie seemed to be to her taste; having nearly demol- 
ished it, as well as the fowl, she exclaimed: ‘^^Well, I can’t 
eat no more. I guess they ’ll be mad if I don’t eat all, so 
I ’ll put the rest of the pie in my pocket and go back to 
my hotel after I ’ve had one more glass of wine ; it ’s better 
than lager. But dear me, how sleepy I feel ! Well, I 
reckon I ’ll just take five winks before I go;” and, resting 
her head against the back of her chair, she was soon fast 
asleep and snoring like a trooper. 

Two hours passed away ; then she began to stretch her 
arms, which struck the dishes, and she awoke with a start, 
jumped to her feet, looked at the clock, and exclaimed, 
‘•Well, I guess the captain won’t come, so I ’ll go.” 

Taking up her hat, which she had thrown on a couch on 
her entrance, she went to the pier glass, and, having ar- 
ranged it to her satisfaction, she walked down the grand 
staircase and told the footman who opened the door for her 
to tell the captain that she could not wait any longer, but 
that she would call again, unless he preferred to call at 
the hotel ; and she smiled at the footman and told him that 
he was a fine fellow. 

When the footman repeated this compliment in the 
kitchen the cook fired up and told him he was a fool, for 
that she had never seen such an ugly jackanapes as he was, 
and that the American woman ^vas no lady. Who had 
ever heard a lady tell a footman that he was handsome? 
It made her sick, that it did ; and she av ould not work for 
those upstarts, no, not if they gave her five hundred 
pounds a year ; that she would n’t ; stamping her foot to 
emphasize her words. 


TUB AMiiiaCAN HEIRESS 


27 


CHAPTEE IV. 

Some months have passed; it is spring again; many 
people are leaving London for their country mansions, 
Lady Montgomery among the number. 

They had just arrived at their beautiful seat in Cum- 
berland. The fresh, pure air of the country was quite re- 
freshing after the London season of balls, paying and re- 
ceiving visits, shopping and interviewing dressmakers, etc. 

Fashionable life is a hard life, and it is envied by so 
many who only see the bright side of it and imagine that 
grand people live in idleness and enjoy perfect happiness. 
How erroneous this idea ! Could we read the hearts of those 
pleasure seekers few of us would change places with them. 
Worldly pleasure does not fill or satisfy the heart ; it leaves 
a desire for more — a discontentedness. Those who have 
mingled with them know the bitter that is mixed with the 
sw'eet of fashionable life, and how many slights are given 
in a polite way, by a look, a shake of the head, a smile, even 
a compliment with a double meaning, which, to a stranger, 
would seem a mark of respect. 

Money is certainly a very useful article, and can give 
great comfort and do much good when well employed, 
by a well balanced mind that looks upon it as a trust given 
by God to use for His glory in doing good to our neighbors. 
This kind of work, if we really have our heart in it, will 
effectively bring us peace and true happiness, for the 
approval or disapproval of the world will not affect us. 
We are serving God and following our guide, Jesus; we feel 
that He is pleased with us, and that satisfies us. Our 
neighbors may smile, or shake their heads, but that can- 
not change our way of living, nor does it pain or offend 
us. We know that we are on the right track, and con- 
sequently we go peacefully on. Our Guide is safe and true ; 
we trust Him entirely; He is our beacon-light who will 
guide us safely into port. 

So why should we look around us for another guide 


28 


MISS HOGG 


who would lead us through the gayeties of the worlds trying 
to imbue us Avith his pernicious maxims — that Ave can 
serve God and the Avorld? It is impracticable. Those 
Avho serve the world have no time to serve God, and often 
forget Him entirely till some great trouble comes upon 
them. Then it is often too late. So, I repeat, money 
can do much good, and also great evil. May God help us 
all to use whatever AA^e have, much or little, so as to please 
Him and gain for us eternal happiness ! 

But to return to my story. The beauty of nature has 
drown my soul toAAuirds heaven. The large park Avith 
its Avoods like a small forest, a deer here and there peeping 
out and sometimes running across the clearing, then dis- 
appearing in another part of the Avood; the hares and 
Avild rabbits leaping in the grass, sitting squirrels, their 
tails reaching far aboA^e their heads; and further on, at a 
distance beyond the park walls, a farmhouse, with the 
usual surroundings of stablings, hayricks, pigeon coops; 
and in the fields more than tAvo dozen coavs, and some 
horses, are enjo^dng themselves, broAvsing the long thick 
grass, some lying down ruminating; further on, by them- 
selves, a wall separating them from the coavs and horses, 
are at least two dozen calves of different sizes, running and 
gamboling to their hearts’ content. Some men and women 
are Avorking in the field. It is a lovely picture, even from 
a distance. 

This farm belonged to Lady Montgomery and provided 
her Avith fresh milk, butter, and cheese, A^egetables of all 
Ivinds, as Avell as eggs and poultry. The mansion Avas a 
large, old fashioned building Avith diamond-paned Avin- 
dows, large porch, vath colored glass, marble floor, grand 
staircase, at the bottom of which Avere tAvo marble statues, 
each holding a chandelier. Marble steps led to the terrace, 
on each side of Avhich was a splendid marble vase contain- 
ing flowers beautifully mixed, some hanging almost to the 
steps. The mansion had square towers Avith ramparts. 
The front of the mansion had a balcony reaching from 
tower to tower, Avith lovely flowers near each AvindoAv. The 
towers were covered with ivy, in Avhich birds made their 
nests in summer. The garden Avas Avell kept and filled Avith 
the choicest flowers; a summerhouse here and there, some 
covered Avith honeyspckle^ pthens Avith climbing roses, nnd 


THE AMEUICAN HEIRESS 

others, again, with clematis. \Yell kept, white graveled 
walks led to them among the rose bushes, and ornamental 
shrubs. 

On either side of the avenue leading to the lodge were 
poplar trees, so tall and noble looking, with their ever- 
trembling leaves, which sometimes look green and some- 
times white, and remind one of the waves of the sea. 
Tlie lodge was a pretty four-roomed house made to cor- 
respond with the square towers, and had diamond-paned 
windows like the mansion. 

John Harrison, with his wife and child, lived in the 
lodge, and attended the gate, more properly called the 
great iron door, which had a small wicket that vras always 
opened when the big bell rang, before the iron door was 
opened — that is to say, in time of war; but at the time 
of which I write it was open all day, though it was expected 
that no stranger would pass the lodge without notifying 
the inmates and stating his business. Mrs. Harrison 
attended the door ^vhile her husband was out, he being 
gamekeeper. They were a happy couple; they had only 
one child, a boy five years old. Their home was a picture 
of neatness and cleanliness, as are the greater number of 
lodges in England. 

Lady Montgomery loved the country far better than 
she did London. Had she followed her own inclination 
she would have remained a larger part of the year in 
Cumberland and at her chateau in Wales than in London; 
though for her son’s sake she went into society ; but 
every year she felt much relieved when the season was 
over and she could return to her country seat. 

Lady Florence was very much pleased. She delighted 
to go into the park; petted, the deer, chased the squirrels, 
visited the farm on her pony, attended by a servant. 
She was free and happ}^, though she missed her cousm 
Percival, who only visited tliem at intervals, remaining 
only a few days, or a v.^cek at most ; still, she had so many 
things to attract her attention that she missed him less 
than she had supposed she would. Then her time was 
much taken up by lier studies. She was a clever, obedient 
child, and was loved by her governess and by all who had 
anything to do with her ; even the farm hands would look 


30 


MISS HOGG 


at her admiringly and say to each other, ^^Ah, she be a true 
lady, the little miss ; no upstart pride in her/^ 

^AVhy,^^ said Joe, ^^she came to see my little lass last 
week and brought her some cake and fruit, and even shook 
hands with her at parting, saying that she was so sorry 
that my little lass was sick, and that she must make haste 
to get well and they would hunt squirrels together. What 
do you think of that for a grand lady like her ? I am told 
that she is far better off than my lady; her father was a 
great lord in France, or somewhere; I have seen him 
often; lie used to come here a-courting Lady Eleonore, 
our little lady’s mother. And to think that they are botli 
gone !” 

^^Why, Joe, your little lass is better off than Lady 
Florence,” said John, ^^for she has her father and mother, 
which is better than all the riches in the world, and our 
dear little lady has lost hers. She is the image of her 
mother at her age. I remember her so well. She used to 
ride a white pony and was kind to every one just as her 
little daughter is to us now, God bless her!” 

^^There she is, mounting, now; see her, by the terrace. 
Why, Lord Montgomery is helping her; he must have re- 
turned last night. W^hat a grand looking man he is, — so 
tall and dark, just like his mother ! How noble he looks 
on his coal-black horse, and what a contrast with his fair- 
haired cousin ! How lovely she is with her black cloth 
habit, black felt hat with a white feather, and her pretty 
little white gloved hand, and pearl-handled whip ! How 
well she sits her snow-white pony I What a picture ! It is 
a pity that she is not ten years older, for they would make 
a fine couple.” 

^^0, don’t bother 3 ^our head match-making,” said Joe. 
^^She won’t lack offers from the grandest in the land, and 
as for my lord, he won’t wait so long. Did you see him 
the last time he was here going about with that flashy 
American girl? Every one do say that he means some- 
thing, but I don’t believe that my lady knows it. But 
hush ! here they come.” 

And Lord Montgomery and Lady Florence passed them 
with a kind smile as they raised their hats to the hand- 
some pair, who soon disappeared at full gallop. 

Lady Montgomery, from the dining room window, had 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 31 

witnessed the scene with pleasure and pride. 0, if those 
two could only be united one day her happiness would be 
complete ; but so many years must elapse before that could 
be, and Percival had looked troubled lately as if he had 
something of importance on his mind. What could it be 
at his age? Love, unquestionably. She could come to 
no other conclusion. 

Some of her friends had met the captain in the 
company of Miss Hogg and had forthwith brought her 
the news, asking her if she was not afraid that he might be 
drawn into a marriage with her, but her ladyship had 
smiled at the absurd idea. Her son to marry a low-born 
American girl — never! She could trust him. Yet, when 
her friends had departed doubts and fears would arise. 
She must speak to him on the subject and warn him 
before he again left for London. It would be best. 

So a few days later, finding herself alone in the draw- 
ing-room with her son, she saw her opportunity. He 
seemed lost in thought and had not said a word for at 
least half an hour. His mother, looking anxiously at 
him, said: ^^My dear Percival, what has come over you 
lately? You look so sad and unhappy.^^ 

The captain had awakened from his revery with a start 
when his mother spoke, and was looking at her uneasily, 
and as he did not answer her ladyship continued : have 

been told that you are often seen in company with Miss 
Hogg; in fact, I saw you myself, yesterday, while riding 
with Lady Mortimer. You were both sitting in the sum- 
merhouse. I was certainly surprised and hurt to see you, 
my son, in such company. I feared that Lady Mortimer 
would see you, so to attract her attention I pointed out 
to her the beautiful scenery on the other side of the 
avenue. She smiled and reminded me that she had 
observed the same scenery for the past twenty years and 
more, and that she could not see any alterations or im- 
provements; and the look she gave me brought a blush 
to my face, for I felt that I was not acting honestly with 
my old friend. She seemed to read my thoughts, for she 
laughed merrily, and tapping me on the arm with her 
fan, said, ^Hever mind, my dear Laura, young people will 
be young people, and they must amuse themselves; my 
eyes are not older than yours, and as you were so persistent 


32 


MISS II06C1 


in making me look on the left side of the avenue I naturally 
looked on the right and saw a pretty tableau; but as it 
seems to be disagreeable to you let us forget it/ And I 
answered^ ^Yes, my dear Maud, forget it; but I, his mother, 
will ask him to explain/ 

^^And now I ask you, my son, to tell me what troubles 
A^ou, for it is obvious to me that you are in trouble. It 
cannot be that you love Miss Hogg, for she is not only 
plain, but vulgar; and, as I have often told you, not one of 
our ancestors has e^rer made a mesalliance; we are true 
aristocrats and look more to good blood than to fortune.^^ 

A thought seemed to flash through Lady Montgomery’s 
mind, and she said, abruptly : ^Tercival, are you in want of 
money? Tell me, my boy, my only son, who is to repre- 
sent our house one day — a name left to us spotless from 
generation to generation. Do not soil it by a mesalliance, 
break your mother’s heart, and wrong a foolish, low-born 
girl who would be happier with a man of her own class. 
Or haA^e you forgotten my advice and example — have 
you been playing or betting — which is it, Percival? Tell 
your mother and let her save you.” 

^^My dear mother,” said the captain, much affected, 
and rising, taking her hands in his and looking at her 
tenderly, ^det us sit down and I Avill tell you all. It is 
not so bad as you have imagined. Had I known the anxiety 
you were feeling on my account I Avould have told ,you 
before. I have certainly committed a great error and I 
am very sincerely sorry for it, and I give you my Avord of 
honor that I shall never again be caught as I have been with 
our colonel; it has very nearly wrecked all my future 
prospects. I am in want of money, but not through gam- 
bling or betting, but through having been soft enough to 
put my name to an I. 0. IJ. for the colonel, who, I haA^e 
lately heard, is a thorough gambler, and penniless except 
for his pay, which no one can touch. He is a ruined 
man, and I shall have to pay the I. 0. IT. Avhich I Avas 
weak enough to sign, and it is a large sum. I hardly dare 
to tell you. It Avill be due next month, just on my coming 
of age. You are sure to despise me for having dared 
to act without asking your advice and consent. In fact, 
this affair has troubled me so much that I had almost made 
up my mind to propose to Miss Hogg to enable me to pay 


33 


amJerican heiress 

it. I now despise myself for the very thought; it is 
unworthy of a true gentleman. I read your indignation 
and the pain that I am causing you in your face; still, 
I wish you to know me Just as I am, and how one wrong 
committed to oblige a friend has very nearly led me into 
another which would have been irreparable. But for 
your kind words and your great anxiety on my account, 
which has led me to confess everything to you, my dear 
mother, God only knows how far I should have gone.^^ 

^^But, my dear Percival, the sum must be very large; 
you frighten me; do tell me the amount.^^ 

^^Thirty thousand pounds, dear mother,^^ answered the 
captain, looking hard at the carpet and blushing pain- 
fully, not daring to look at his mother, who remained 
silent for a moment; then placing her hand on his 
shoulder, she said: 

^^My dear boy, this is very terrible. Still, I had feared 
that it was worse, as you spoke of selling yourself 
to pay the debt. Did you think of me whose only son 
you are ? In wrecking your own life you would also have 
ruined mine, and also your cousin^s prospects. I am 
so pleased that you have opened your heart to me.^^ And, 
rising, she w^ent to her desk, wrote a check for the amount, 
and, presenting it to her son, said, ^^Here is a check for 
thirty thousand pounds, and though it is a very large sum 
to lose, even for us, still, I am happy to say that it will 
not put us to any great inconvenience, for, as you are 
aware, my income in my own right is large, and I spend 
but little.^^ 

The captain took the cheek and kissed his mother^s 
hand with gratitude, saying: ^Tt will never happen again, 
dear mother; forgive me, and in the future I shall always 
ask your advice, and I will try not to disappoint you in 
my marriage. I shall wait for my dear little cousin. 
I love her already, and if she will love me I shall only 
be too happy to make her Lady Montgomery, and you 
the dowager Lady Montgomery. Just think how it sounds 
laughing merrily, for he had quite recovered and felt 
free and happy once more. The reaction was great. 

His mother smiled kindly at him, for although he 
had lost thirty thousand pounds he had not done it in 
a dishonorable manner; his kind heart had prompted him 


34 


MISS MOCa 


to do it — not vice — and his mother forgave him freely. 
His keeping up the acquaintance of Miss Hogg weighed 
more on her mind, and she said, am so pleased to see 
you happy once more, and so well disposed towards your 
cousin; but allow me to remark that you are not paying 
her a very great compliment by flirting with Miss Hogg. 
How came she to be in our summerhouse with you yester- 
day? She has never been invited here by me, and sure- 
ly you have not invited her yourself, even for the love 
of mischief; nor would any young lady accept the invita- 
tion of a gentleman; it would be highly improper.^^ 

^^Hay, my dear mother, I would never so far forget the 
respect due to you as to invite anyone who I knew would 
not be agreeable to you; nor would I think of inviting 
a lady. I certainly deserve your bad opinion for having 
been seen with Miss Hogg, but I am not so much to blame 
as you suppose. I certainly thought of proposing to her, 
as I have confessed to you, but it was only a flash; in less 
than a minute I felt ashamed of the thought, and I will 
explain what passed between us yesterday. 

^^In the first place, she came without any invitation 
from anyone. I was at the lodge talking to Harrison about 
some poachers who are destroying the game, when a 
carriage came to a full stop at the gate, and a lady jumped 
out without the least ceremony or aid, and ran towards me, 
holding out both hands, and saying at the top of her voice, 
‘^0, my lord captain, is that you ? I ^m 2 )owerful glad 
to see you; how do? Well, I guess I ^m in luck; I \e 
got heaps to say to you.^ 

^^Well, dear mother, I was puzzled how to act. I took 
off my hat and bowed very low, keeping the hat in my 
right hand and the walking stick in the other, so as not 
to be compelled to take her extended hands, saying at 
the same time, ^Good afternoon. Miss Hogg, I hope I 
see you well.^ ^0, I ^m pretty bouncing, thank you. I 
see that your hands are full, so I fll take your arm ;’ and, 
suiting the action to the word, she took my left arm and 
marched me towards the house, calling over her shoulder 
to the cabman, ‘^You wait there, you fellow, till I come 
back, or I won^t pay you a cent.^ 

^^Harrison and his wife looked thunderstruck, and I, 
not knowing exactly what to do, walked by her side in 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


35 


silence, not daring to refuse for fear of a scene, and 
yet not daring to walk to the house with Miss Hogg on 
my arm. Had I been an older man I might have found 
a way out of the dilemma, but I was dazed. To add 
to the trouble, as we neared the house I saw Lady Morti- 
mer’s carriage at the door; and, worse than all, the hall 
door was opened, and you and her ladyship came down 
the steps. I was ready to drop. What would you and 
Lady Mortimer think of me marching in with a 
lady, and such a lady, too, on my arm, and her servants, as 
well as ours, looking on ? I looked around in desperation ; 
we were just passing the summerhouse with climbing roses, 
and, turning to my companion, I asked her, with an 
emotion which I believe she attributed to a cause far 
different from the real one, ^Do you love roses, Miss^ogg? 
See, there are some very beautiful ones.^ ^Sure I do,’ she 
answered, falling into the trap, ^et us go and gather some 
for your buttonhole and, to my great relief, she dragged 
me after her till we reached the summerhouse. I sat down 
on one of the seats exhausted, while she plucked a full 
blown rose as large as a dinner plate for my buttonhole, 
and at least a dozen for herself. Then, seating herself 
by my side, she was just pinning the rose in my coat when 
Lady Mortimer’s carriage passed us. I felt hot all over 
as I saw your eyes turned upon us, and Lady Mortimer 
looking at us with a wicked smile which said, ^0, I see 
you ; I ’ve caught you young people.’ 

was so excited that I didn’t take off my hat, but 
looked dovm, tapping my boots with my cane. Miss Hogg, 
misinterpreting my emotion, said, tapping me on the 
shoulder, ^Why, you are blushing like a girl; you are so 
different to the Hew York and Brooklyn boys; they’re 
awfully fresh ; they could n’t blush if they tried ; I suppose 
if they were lords they would blush too, but you see they 
ain’t. The richest of them were only peddlers, bootblacks, 
and saloon keepers, or their fathers before them were, so 
that the blush has been well taken out of them. And 
they are so sassy, too; they never take off their hats to 
anyone, young or old; I think they must have been born 
with their hats on. And as for giving up their seats 
in the cars, it is quite out of the question ; us females could 
drop to the floor, and they would still keep their seats 


36 


MISS HOGG 


with their noses well stuck in their newspapers, pretending 
not to see us. There are some exceptions, but very few. 
Some say, when they see a man get up and give his seat to 
a woman, that he must have English blood, or be a stranger, 
but when he has been in America awhile he will be cured 
of that nonsense. Every man for himself in America. 

‘^So that is why I have come to England. I want to 
marry a gentleman. It^s nice to see them take off their 
hats, even to their mothers, and to kiss their hands to 
them. Why, in America, a fellow thinks nothing of throw- 
ing his arm around a girhs neck and giving her a kiss 
without saying ^^by your leave.^^ You are so very indiffer- 
ent; here I have been with you ever so long and you have 
not ev^ paid me a compliment or tried to kiss my hand; 
you are awfully cool.^ 

felt annoyed, and yet amused, but I managed to say, 
^My dear Miss Hogg, I would never dare to take such 
a liberty with 3W; and I am sorry to say that I shall not 
be able to invite you to the house, for Lady Montgomery 
is out — has gone with Lady Mortimer. See their carriage 
just turning to the lodge; they are going to the farm.^ 
^Well, I never V she replied. ‘Why did nT you tell 
me before? I might have gone with them, and you, too, 
of course. Suppose you whistle to them; they might hear 
you and stop, you know ; try, before they Ye out of sight ; 
do, there Y a peach.^ 

“How very vulgar,^^ said her ladyship; “and did she 
give you a peach to tempt you to whistle, just as if you 
had been a little boy?^^ 

“0, no,^^ answered the captain, with a smile which he 
could not restrain ; “it was I who was the peach ; you have 
no idea of all the slang she uses. I am at a loss sometimes 
to comprehend her meaning.^^ 

“Eeally, Percival, it would be laughable if you were not 
mixed up in it/’ said the countess, with a smile. “Did 
she complain to you that she had not been invited to 
Florence^ party? I left her out so that she might under- 
stand that we had no desire for her company. If she 
were of our set she would never overlook the slight.^^ 

“0, she did, and she said it must have been my fault, 
for that you and she agreed prime — ^those were her words. 
I hope you will excuse me for making use of them. And 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


37 


she also flew into a terrible passion when I did not obey her 
command to whistle after you and Lady Mortimer, and 
turned upon me, saying : ^ I really believe you are ashamed 
of me, Mr. Captain, and you didn^t want me to go with 
your mother. You may smile, but I think it is most unkind 
of you to treat me so after the conversation I had with 
your mother. I am as good as engaged to you; with 
your mother^s consent, too.^ 

^‘1 jumped as if I had been shot. ^What, Miss Hogg, 
you engaged to me without my knowledge! Surely you 
are joking; you Americans have no limit to your jokes; 
you are all so clever that we find ourselves bought, sold, 
and delivered before we have the slightest suspicion of 
what is going on. Still, I must say that I object to being 
disposed of in so unceremonious a manner, though I feel 
greatly the honor that you would confer upon me, even 
in a joke, for I am not so vain as to believe that you are 
in earnest. 

^But suppose I was in earnest ?’ she said, with a laugh 
that sent a cold chill through my whole body. I replied, 
H will not suppose for a moment that a lady would say 
what you have just said, except as a joke ; pray say no more 
about it. How do you like England and when do you 
expect to return to your own country?’ 

^0, it will all depend ; I am in no hurry. I like 
England a sight better than I do France, for they talk 
like pigs there, and they are forever grinning, and they 
call us la belle American. My heart ! to call us a bell ! 
I suppose it’s because we talk loud and are lively — they 
say noisy — that they compare us to church bells, or perhaps 
to the crier bell — they did n’t say which — but I made them 
understand that I was not a bell, though I choose to talk 
loud. Some of the ladies smiled, and one gentleman took 
off his hat, and, bowing to me, said something I under- 
stood to be ^^the damzelle is reasonable; she is no bell;” 
so you see he took my part, and I liked him for it, and 
smiled at him; but I guess his wife must have been near 
about for he never answered my smile, and me and ma 
turned away in disgust.’ ” And the captain laughed merrily 
and continued: 

^^^hile she was relating this interesting anecdote she 
had been busy making a bouquet with the dozen full blown 


38 


MISS HOGG 


roses ; when that was done she placed it in her belt ; it al- 
most reached her chin. I asked her if it was the fashion 
in America to wear large bouquets. ^0, sure it is ; we ain’t 
mean ; we want plenty of everything. Here you see a lady 
with five or six lilies at most, pinned on her shoulder, in 
a green leaf. We could n’t stand that, you know; we like a 
good show.’ ” 

^‘Eeally,” said her ladyship, ^^you have been edified and 
have gained knowledge of the new world. How did you 
manage to get rid of your interesting companion? I had 
no idea that her mother had accompanied her to England. 
And how very absurd that the French speak like -pigs, 
because she does n’t understand them. Did she expect 
them to speak English? The French are the creme de la 
creme of refinement and courtesy.” 

^^Certainly, my dear mother, but you forget that you 
have been very differently treated by them to what Miss 
Hogg and her mother must have been — always doing 
something outre^ which shocked and disgusted some, while 
it amused others who did not take it so seriously — men 
in particular. Americans are so free; so very different 
from us English. 

^^You will be surprised when I tell you that Miss Hogg 
said it made no difference whether you wxre at home or 
not, that she did n’t mind in the least ; that she had often 
been to a restaurant with her escort and had a jolly 
supper on leaving the theater, and no one ever found 
fault; it was quite the fashion in J^ew York. 

tried to explain that every country has different 
customs, and that we had to follow the rules of society 
if we wished to be respected, however strongly our inclina- 
tion pointed the other way. ^0, my heart !’ she exclaimed, 
"^did you ever hear such rubbish? I believe in people en- 
joying themselves if they have money, as I have, and can 
dress as I do. What do you say, lord captain? I know 
you don’t belong to that silly set, and you like me, don’t 
you know? You know you do’ — giving me a poke in the 
ribs that brought tears to my eyes — and she laughed loud 
enough to be heard at the lodge.” 

‘^^My dear boy, how could you put up with so much 
impertinence ?” 

cap assure you that it was not willingly^ but some- 


THE AMERICAK* HEIRESS 


39 


how I did not seem to find the right thing to say. I am 
never at a loss to give and take a joke in our own set, 
but I felt nonplused with Miss Hogg; in fact, looked 
timid, and felt so ; and, though I wished myself miles away 
from her, I was at a loss how to take the first step. 

^^At last I remarked that it was getting late and that 
you would not be back in time to receive her; that I was 
sorry she had come so far to see you and had been dis- 
appointed, that her coachman might get tired of waiting 
and go away, and it would be very unpleasant. ^Shall 
I see you to your carriage. Miss Hogg?^ and I rose and 
walked but of the summerhouse and came face to face 
with the major, who had a wicked twinkle in his eye. 
Eaising his hat to us and making an absurd bow, he 
said, ^0, my dear boy, have I come at a mal-d-propos time ? 
Am I de tropf 

could have knocked him down, and yet I was pleased 
that he had come to break our tete d tete. Miss Hogg 
jumped up, shook hands with him and laughed at his 
joke. I remarked that I was just going to take Miss Hogg 
to her carriage and that we would be pleased to have his 
company; so we all walked toward the lodge, the major 
joking me and getting me deeper with Miss Hogg. But 
I paid him off. 3EIe laughs well who laughs last. I opened 
the carriage door for Miss Hogg and told her how sorry I 
felt that I could not escort her, as you would be expecting 
me to dinner, but that the major would be delighted to see 
her home. He looked daggers at me, but he did not dare 
refuse; so I bundled him in with Miss Hogg, and said, 
really envy you, my dear fellow.^ ^And well you may,^ 
he answered; and Miss Hogg, taking it as a compliment, 
laughed aloud. I raised my hat and laughed heartily at 
the trick I had played the major. I shall have to pay for 
it sooner or later, but I will trust to luck to get even with 
him.^^ 

^^Well, really, you young fellows seem to have a good 
time, even if you do get into trouble sometimes, said her 
ladyship. ^^Still, a young head is apt to go too far in these 
matters and find it difficult to draw back with honor. Do 
you think that Miss Hogg is likely to trouble us again ? for, 
of course, she must see that her visits are not agreeable to 
us. I cannot understand her motives in asserting that I 

• 'I 


40 


MISS HOGO 


have discussed your matrimonial prospects with her. When 
she was here last she spoke very freely of you and your 
appearance, and would have told me a great deal about 
herself and people, but I left the room, and never even 
inquired of the servants how long she had stayed after 
my departure/^ 

cannot understand her myself, unless it is some of 
her low jokes, but I am sorry to have to tell you that she 
is determined to come to see you and bring her mother 
with her/ 

^^May we be preserved from such a misfortune cried 
Lady Montgomery. ^‘1 have a mind to say ^not at home.^ 

^^Too late, my dear mother; I hear her voice.^^ 

And, in fact, a loud altercation was heard in the hall 
between Miss Hogg and the footman, who had said, 
will inquire if my lady is at home.^^ 

^^You old humbug, did n’t I see her at the window as 
I came down the avenue? What do you mean by trying 
to bamboozle me?^^ 

mean, madam,^^ said the footman, ^^that I will inquire 
if my lady can see you.^^ 

^^Of course she can; I guess you don’t know that it 
won’t be long before I marry Lord Captain Montgomery; 
I bet you don’t know nothing. Let me pass. I don’t 
want none o’ your announcements; I can find my way.” 

And pushing the man to one side, she marched up 
the stairs, followed by her mother, who was saying rather 
timidly, ^^Mamie, I would n’t go up if I you; if we ’re 
not welcome, let ’s go.” 

^^How you do talk, mother! haven’t 1 told you that 
I ’m as good as engaged to the captain ? It ’s only that 
jackanapes of a footman who wants to give himself airs. 
I ’ll have him discharged as soon as I ’m mistress here. 
Come along, ma.” 

^^Ho, Mamie, dear, I ’ll stay here while you go and 
see Lady Montgomery ; I ’d rather ;” and she went back 
and sat down on one of the hall chairs. 

Meanwhile her daughter went up, saying to her, ^^You 
have no spirit, that you have n’t, no more than a fly ; if 
dad was here he ’d be after me in a jiffy, and back me, 
too, you bet ;” and she walked into the drawing-room 
much excited. 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


41 


^^Good morning, Mrs. Montgomery — no, not that either. 
That beggarly footman of yours has made me so mad that 
I donT know whether I stand on my head or my heels — I 
mean Mrs. Captain — 0, bother the name ! it won^t come 
right ; yes, it must ; I ^11 have to get used to it as it will 
soon be mine, I guess. Lady Montgomery — that^s it, 
at last,^^ — having pronounced it very slowly. ainT 

it true that me and you agreed that I should marry the 
captain, and that I was to give you lots of money to dress 
as smart as I do? You are so sweet looking that I know 
it ainT your fault. Do tell the captain, there a dear,^^ 
and she approached her ladyship as if she would em- 
brace her. 

But Lady Montgomery drew back and said in a calm, 
low voice, ^^My dear Miss Hogg, pray do not excite your- 
self ; be calm ; take a chair and rest yourself while I explain 
matters to you; it is all a mistake on your part. 

‘^^Lord Montgomery, my son, is already engaged to his 
cousin. Lady Florence De La Kochefoucauld, and he cannot 
marry you or any other lady ; and allow me to tell you — and 
I beg of you not to be offended at what I am about to say, 
for I really mean it for your happiness — were you to 
marry my son you would not find happiness with him; a 
title is not enough to bring happiness; you would soon 
tire of it. I have no wish to pain you ; kindly keep this in 
mind; it is for your good that I am speaking. You would 
often be slighted by his relatives and acquaintances, and 
made miserable by remarks at your expense that he would 
be powerless to prevent, and he would soon be made to 
understand that it is not enough to please himself in 
the matter of marriage, but that he must consider his social 
position; that money alone, without birth, does not out- 
weigh prejudice in our set; blue blood is necessary and 
indispensable; true happiness can only be found with our 
equals, and it is the same in every station in life. 

^^Take my advice, my dear girl; marry some good man in 
your own sphere of life, use your money in doing good, and 
you will find true happiness. Many of your country- 
women have tried to m^rry above their station, and I am 
sorry to say that some have succeeded ; but at what a cost 
to themselves, and to their high-born, but socially ruined, 
husbands! What heartaches on both sides! If received 


42 


MISS HOGG 


in society to hear whispered here and there, ^That ^s Lord 
So and so, the old roue, the gambler; he sold his title to 
that American girl; her father is a millionaire, and he 
had to pay a good price for it. The old fellow began life as 
a peddler. The girl has cut loose from her family, of 
course; she, herself, was enough for her husband, without 
her family. It is said that the old peojile are breaking 
their hearts over it ; they expected to have the entree to my 
lord^s house; the girl is ashamed of her parents and does 
not wish to have them near her. She often quarrels with 
her servants, and when her husband remonstrates with 
her she turns on him. They lead a cat and dog life; they 
will soon be seeking a divorce.^ I have often heard such re- 
marks made, and I have pitied them both. How much they 
have suffered ! And the girls^ parents who had worked so 
hard to raise their children so far above themselves, expect- 
ing joy and gratitude for what they had done, instead of 
which they are looked down upon and forsaken by them. 
Their money is what is needed, not their presence. 0, how 
bitter it must be for those low-born, but good and hard- 
working kind parents ! How much better it would have 
been had their daughter married a policeman, or a shop- 
keeper, or any other man in her own station ! DonT you 
think so. Miss Hogg? You would not wish to break your 
parents’ hearts, would you? Don’t get angry, my dear, 
but just reflect and you will own that I am right.” 


1?HE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


43 


CHAPTEE V. 

Lady Montgomery was a thorough aristocrat;, with 
all the pride of her race. She was proud, but not arrogant ; 
she had no wish to humble those who had been born in a 
lower sphere than her own, but she did not believe in 
equality, nor did she approve of mixing the different 
grades of society. She was kind to every one, as a true- 
born lady and a Christian should be, and in speaking as 
she had done to Miss Hogg she had meant to set her right 
for her own welfare. Had she been an upstart, vindictive 
person she would not have argued the point, but would 
simply have given positive orders to her servants not to 
admit Miss Hogg. Her kind heart had forbidden that; 
still, there must be an end. Miss Hogg must be made to 
understand that it is not the custom in England for young 
ladies to propose, or even to hint to gentlemen that they 
are willing to meet them half way. They must remain 
passive. 

Miss Hogg would do all the work and all the courting. 
She imagined that her money gave her the right of 
entrance everywhere; she thought that fine clothes made 
her a lady, and that if she did not receive offers of marriage 
right and left it was only timidity on the part of the 
gentlemen, who feared a refusal on account of her large 
fortune; so that when she heard Lady Montgomery’s 
version she was at first dumf ounded ; she would not believe 
her own ears. Then, as she began to comprehend that 
Lady Montgomery looked down upon her and would be 
ashamed to claim her as her daughter-in-law, and ad- 
vised her to marry a low man, her anger knew no bounds ; 
her face grew red with passion ; she clinched her fists, and 
rising, she went a step nearer to Lady Montgomery, as if 
to strike her. The captain had advanced a few steps 
towards his mother, but she had signaled to him to stop, 
and, looking calmly and proudly at Miss Hogg, she waited. 
Miss Hogg, meeting that look, quailed under it, and re- 
mained where she stood, not daring to advance another 


44 


MISS HOGG 


step ; but her anger found vent in words ; her true nature 
came out; all the varnish of politeness vanished in a 
moment. Had she been a lady born she would have walked 
out of the room as proudly as a queen, and would not even 
have deigned an answer. 

But Miss Hogg found relief in abuse; so, stamping 
her foot, she screamed, ^^Well, I never! You must have 
changed your mind pretty quick. You must have had 
a fortune left you since I was here, I guess, or you 
wouldn't be such a beggar on horseback as to tell me to 
marry a zephyr alive — I reckon I could n^t marry him 
if he was dead — whatever the fellow may be; and as for 
your son marrying Florence De La Eochefoucauld, he never 
shall. I will be revenged on you both. . The idea ! I am 
not good enough for that beggarly son of yours. Why, I 
could buy you both twice over with all my money. See my 
jewels; just what I have on cost more than fifty thousand 
dollars. What do 3 ^ou say to that? You never saw as 
much money altogether, I bet.^^ And looking from mother 
to son to see what impression she was making, she met 
the smiling face of Lord Montgomery, who felt quite 
amused to hear her brag of her mone}' — he who at that 
moment had one hundred and fifty thousand dollars in 
his pocket to throw away on that worthless coloneFs I. 0. IT. 
She saw him smile and her heart softened towards him; 
advancing a step nearer to him she exclaimed : ^^0, captain, 
wonT you think better of it ? I M give all my money to be 
Lady Montgomery.^^ 

The captain turned away from her in disgust and 
walked to the window; but Miss Hogg^s blood was up. 
He looked so handsome standing there so proud and erect, 
curling his black mustache. She had never seen anyone 
like him in America — had never imagined that such perfect 
manhood existed ; and now the thought of losing him mad- 
dened her. She rushed towards him, and in her madness 
would have thrown her arms around his neck; but Lady 
Montgomery, guessing her intention, rose in time to place 
herself between her and her son, and motioning her back, 
said, very coolly: 

^^Miss Hogg, I am expecting visitors, so that I shall 
have to wish you good morning. I hope you will have a 
pleasant journey back to America.^^ 


^HE AMERICAN HEIRES§ 


45 


She rang the bell. Sarah appeared. ^^Open the door 
for Miss Hogg, and tell Lady Vincent to come up; it was 
her carriage that I heard just now, was it not?^'’ 

^^Yes, my lady.^^ 

Miss Hogg was so taken by surprise that she left the 
room, only murmuring: will be revenged if I die for 

it. 0, my heart ! but you will both pay dearly for this ; and 
that Florence too^^ — and she marched down the stairs and 
said : ^^Come, ma, let ^s go ; if you had come up with me 
all this would not have happened. 0 why was n^t I born 
a ladyP 

And as she passed out she saw, or thought she saw, 
a smile on the face of the well trained footman, and she 
boxed his ears soundly. It made him wink, and brought 
a flush of anger to his face. For his mistresses sake he 
said nothing, but he drew himself up more erect, and really 
did smile as he saw her trip on her skirt while stepping into 
her carriage; and, turning to one of the maids, said, 
“Did you ever see a real lady get into a carriage like this 
American woman? It is easy to see that she wasn^t born 
to it.’^ 

“Ho, John, I never did; but I am sorry that she gave 
you such a box ; why, your cheek is swelling already.^^ 

“Yes, it is painful; she has a hand as heavy as a 
navvy.'’^ 

Sarah’s eyes filled with tears of pity, and John looked 
at her with surprise. Said he : “Why, are you so sorry as 
all that? I thought you hated me.” 

“0, no, I don’t, J ohn ;” and she ran away. 

^TV'ell,” thought John, “women are queer things. 
There’s that Miss Hogg after my lord like fire; anyone 
can see that; and there’s Sarah, who always said she 
could n’t bear me, and when I ’m hurt she has tears in 
her eyes, and more than tears, if I ’m not mistaken. I hope 
it is so, for I have a weakness for her ; she ’s a good, decent 
girl, and perhaps — ^who knows ? — she may be my wife one 
day. But how I do run ahead, to be sure ! How my cheek 
do smart and how swollen it is getting !” — as he looked at 
himself in a pocket mirror — “If Miss Hogg comes here 
often I shall have to get a leather patch to put on my 
cheek or the visitors will think that I always have the 
toothache.” 


46 


MISS HOGG 


CHAPTER VI. 

Meanwhile Miss Hogg and her mother had driven 
away. The mother looked timidly at the daughter and 
asked, ^‘^What is the matter with you, Mamie, and what 
did you box that poor man^s ears for? He did nothing to 
you that I saw.^^ 

^^0, indeed, you never see nothing; now dad would 
have seen through it in a jiiEy. Well, the trouble is this,^^ 
pointing to a little girl with golden curls down to her waist, 
and mounted on a white pony, followed by a servant in dark 
green livery. 

^^0, what a lovely child, Mamie ! I never saw such 
a beauty; she^s all lilies, roses, and gold. Such a com- 
plexion! Such hair I We never see that in America.^^ 

^^0, do leave off, ma ; you T1 drive me mad with all that 
trash ! Do you really think this little girl so beautiful 

^‘^Why, of course I do ; you must be blind if you donT ; 
she ^s a perfect vision from heaven ; an angel could nT beat 
her; who is she, do you know her?^^ 

^^Of course I do, and I hate her. She it is who stands 
in my v/ay of being Lady Montgomery ; would you believe 
it — that chick ?’^ 

^T donT understand, my dear, and there ^s no asking 
you a question lately; when I do you get in such a rage 
that you upset me for the day; just like bringing me here 
to-day; making me believe we would be welcome; and I 
see you force your way upstairs. Yes, you did ; you need nT 
stare at me with flashing eyes; you did, by main force; 
and I felt so small sitting there in the hall, with the 
servants each passing in turn to have a look at me, and 
my daughter upstairs with the countess. If you had been 
welcome a message would have been sent for me to come 
up, but none came. I may not be a lady, but I have 
feelings and judgment enough to know when I am not 
wanted. You donT take after me, my dear, but after 
your father. I We seen him force his way as you did 


THE AMERICAN' HEIRESS 47 

to-day^ regardless of insults, if he thought money was to 
be made by it/^ 

^'Well, ma, ain^t you glad that he made money 
^^Yes, my dear; but people can be very comfortable 
and happy with less money than we have. It has often 
made my heart ache the way your father has been spoken 
to by people of very doubtful character. Your father has 
always been good to me and given me as much money as 
I wished to spend, but he has never taken me into his 
confidence as regards his business. When I have sometimes 
asked him his answer has been that it would never do, for 
if he did I would soon ruin him with my silly scruples 
about what was right and what was wrong, and that some 
women could never understand what business was. As 
for him, he thought might was right. It was him first 
put it into your head to marry a lord, and I, like a fool, fell 
into the trap, for, of course, I would have been very 
much pleased to have you marry a gentleman, but I had 
no idea that you would have to run after them ; I thought 
your money would be attraction enough; and you are 
not bad looking, my dear, even if I do say so,^^ said the 
poor, loving mother, looking at her daughter with a fond- 
ness that disarmed her. 

Her daughter said : ^^I ^m a brute, ma, to be cross 
with you ; we Ye so different that you canY understand 
me; my dad does — so cute. What did you do with 
yourself yesterday, ma? Did you stay in the hotel all 
day 

^^Ho, my dear, I made the acquaintance of an old 
housekeeper who is staying at the hotel and we went out 
together and visited a hospital where she has a niece ; then 
we went to a . home for poor little children ; some are 
orphans and some are foundlings. I saw many pretty 
children, and do you know, Mamie, what came into my 
head while there 

canY never guess, ma, for you have such strange 
notions V’ 

^^Well, Mamie, it Y this : that if you were to get married, 
as you led me to believe that it was almost settled, I would 
take back with me one of those pretty little girls to keep 
me company, for I shall feel lonely, my dear, when you 
are gone;’^ and. tears filled her ejes, 


48 


MISS HOGG 


Miss Hogg had listened to her mother with great 
interest, and at the reference to taking a little girl back 
with her a light came into her eyes; she smiled and said, 
‘^That ^s just it; I ^11 do 

^^What will you do, Mamie, get married? Is there any 
hopes, do you think 

^^Of course there is, my dear mother, even if I don’t 
marry Lord Montgomery. There’s as good fish in the 
sea as ever was caught, but I was n’t thinking of myself, 
but of your plan about a little girl. I approve mightily 
of it, and if you like we ’ll go to-morrow and choose one 
in a jiffy/' 

^^Do you really mean it, Mamie ? I ’m so glad, my dear, 
I was afraid you would n’t be pleased with me and would 
perhaps laugh at my strange notions.” 

ma, nothing could please me better. But here we 
are at the station, and I hear the whistle of the train, so 
let ’s hurry or we ’ll miss it ;” and they dismissed the cab 
and were just in time for the train that came steaming 
in for London. 

They had return tickets so they got aboard without 
delay, and it happened that the carriage had no other 
occupant, so that they were able to discuss their plans, 
at least till they reached the next station, without inter- 
ruption. Miss Hogg led off, so to say, and managed her 
mother, who became like clay in her daughter’s hands. 
She would use her mother’s plan to' work a terrible ven- 
geance on Lady Montgomery and her son ; so she approved 
and praised her mother’s intention. The mother was in 
her glory, for she had feared the opposition of her daughter. 

^^Will you really go with me to-morrow, Mamie dear, 
and shall we take the housekeeper with us?” 

^^Well, no, ma, I think not; we don’t want everybody to 
know, do we ? It would n’t be nice for the dear little thing 
to have every one know that she comes from the poor- 
house.’^ 

^^You’re right, Mamie, and wiser than I am; but how 
shall we manage?” 

^^There ’s a lot of Americans at the hotel ; they ’ll 
be sure to see her and to ask who she is, and, of course, 
will guess by her appearance, for those children have a 
certain look that can’t be mistaken. If you leave it to 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


49 


me, ma, I ^11 arrange it so that no one will find out. What 
we have to do first is to choose the child; she must not be 
too young, for it would give you too much care — say seven 
or eight years old; she wiJl be just of a nice age to dress up 
and take out with you without having a nurse always at 
your heels. 

^‘^That ’s just my idea, Mamie. If we can only succeed 
in hiding where she came from it will be so nice ; but how 
do you propose to do it?’^ 

^^Well, first of all, don^t mention to anybody that you 
intend to adopt a child ; mind, no one must know ; not even 
the old housekeeper; and, above all, don’t tell any of our 
Americans at the hotel; mind, not a word. I will take 
furnished rooms at some distance from the hotel — say 
at Eichmond — where we can take the child and have her 
dressed and attended to in a proper manner. I ’ll have 
to take my maid into my confidence, but she won’t talk; 
she’s as mum as the dead, and will enjoy the trick im- 
mensely, and she knows which side her bread’s buttered 
on.” 

^^But, my dear Mamie, there ’s no trick. This affair 
concerns us and no one else; it’s for the child’s sake; 
it will hurt no one.” 

^^Of course not, ma ; it ’s only a way I have of talking ;” 
and she thought to herself : ^AVhat a fool I am ! I betray 
myself at the very beginning. If ma was n’t so soft she ’d 
guess that I ’m making a tool of her. Poor ma ! She ’s 
awful good, though she ’s so simple.” 

The old lady was delighted and wished that to-morrow 
had already come. When the train ran into the station 
a cab was hired to take them to Temperance Hotel, 
Southampton Eoad, West. When they entered, Miss Hogg 
was so happy looking that some of her friends asked where 
she had been, and said that she must have had a good time. 

^^Yes,” replied Miss Hogg, before her mother could 
answer, ^Ve have been on a visit to Lady Montgomery 
in Cumberland, and we have had a jolly time. It is a 
grand place, not barren and wild looking, like our Ameri- 
can mansions — but I can’t talk about it to-night ; I ’m too 
tired. We will have our dinner sent up, eh, ma, instead 
of coming down to the table d'hote? Come, waiter,” she 
called out as one passed the door, ^fiet our dinner be served 


50 


MISS HOGG 


in a and mind that it be something good^ and plenty 
of it/^ 

^^0, is that you, Miss Nelly as a young girl came into 
the dining room. She was plainly dressed and might 
easily have been taken for a chambermaid, yet she was 
the owner’s daughter, who superintended part of the 
establishment, which was large — three houses having been 
turned, so to speak, into one. I, the writer, lost myself in 
it once, and had to ask the way to my room. I found 
that I had gone into the third house instead of the first; 
they are just alike, and are reached by long corridors. 

Miss Nelly is a nice girl who works hard for temper- 
ance, not only in her father’s hotel, but outside of it, and 
sometimes sends around little books with the names of 
subscribers for the good work, and the amount given 
by each. She can’t he young at the present time — 1898 
— for in October, 1884, she was about twenty, if not more. 

Well, to return to Miss Hogg. ’m so tired. Miss 
Nelly; when you see my maid will you tell her that I want 
her to come to me in double quick time ? Don’t forget.” 

^^No, Miss Hogg,” replied Nelly, with an amused smile, 
for she knew when she had to do with a lady, and all Miss 
Hogg’s fine clothes couldn’t make her one in Nelly’s 
eyes. 

After supper Mrs. Hogg retired, and Miss Hogg had 
a long conference with her maid, Katy, who at first re- 
fused to have anything to do with the matter. She said 
she was afraid she would never have the courage to do 
what was asked of her. 

^^All bosh,” replied Miss Hogg; ^^you are a dare-devil, 
and would dare anything if you only have a mind to. I 
know you of old; many a trick have you played me when 
we were at school. 0, but those public schools are stun- 
ners ! Eich and poor all mixed together like a drove of 
Irish pigs. And what fights and hair-pullings we did 
have ! You and I beat all the other girls fiat. Mr. Handy- 
work used to call us the terrors of the school. Do you remem- 
ber the day I put some sand into his hat, and when he 
put it on it got into his eyes and he could n’t see to run 
after the boys who were laughing at him? He called for 
water and you ran for some and put the wash basin on 
the chair on which he was about to sit, so that the pqqr 


ME AMERICAlsr HEIRESS 


51 


master had a cold bath. Then we all ran away laughing, 
though he was swearing vengeance on us for the next day ; 
but we only laughed the more, for we knew he did nT know 
who had done it. In fact, it was your pluck, Katy, that 
made me choose you for my maid, and if you are going 
to draw back now I shall look for some one else; and 
perhaps it would be better if I employed a man. So 
you get to bed; I donT want you-; do you hear? Get out 
or I ^11 throw my boot at you.^^ 

‘^^DonT be angry, Mamie ! I ^11 do what you want me 
to; sure and faith I will.^^ 

^^Well, did you ever? If you ainT an Irish pig. 
When you ^re driven one way you ^re sure to want to go 
the other. Well, now, you listen, and I T1 tell you my 
plans. We T1 have lots of fun if you T1 only do as I tell 
you, and keep your wits about you, for the honor of Ameri- 
ca, if for nothing else. DonT stop at a lie, or a hundred 
lies, either; we never did at school; we swore that black 
was white in the face of anybody, and without a blush, too. 
And how mad the teachers would get ! One of them 
died through worrying about the children's bad morals, 
she used to say. Ha, ha, ha ! Did you ever ? 0, my 

heart ! but that was a good one, when we all knew that 
she had had a fall from her bike in coming home from a 
moonlight ride with John Baker, he having tried to kiss 
her, some one said.^'’ 

^‘^Yes,^^ said Katy, ‘^and that she had strained her 
neck to get the kiss, and that ^s how she tipped over, bring- 
ing J ohn down with her. Some thought they were fighting. 
John picked himself up, and without waiting to see if 
she was hurt, scorched away, a policeman and a gang of 
bikes following. Ho, ho ! Ha, ha V’ they both laughed. 

^^But look here, Mamie, are you sure the captain will 
marry you when the child is out of the way, for if he don^t 
what will be the good of running the risk of being caught ? 
And I can tell you we fil catch it, hot too, if we Ye found 
out.^^ 

course I ^m quite sure. He Y very fond of me, 
and would marry me to-morrow only for his mother, who 
has taken it into her head that he must wait for that child 
to grow up. Did you ever hear such tomfoolery! The 
captain will be grateful to you as long as his name is not 


6^ MISS HOd(i 

inixed up in the affair, nor must mine appear in it, not 
even if you are caught ; mind that, Katy, and 1 11 pay 
you welL Now I think we had better get to bed; it ’s near 
two o^clock* 1 11 see you again to-morrow night ; and 
be ready to go out with me as soon as I come back with 
ma; I want your help to find rooms. Donl go talk- 
ing with the men servants here and let the cat out of the 
bag; and donl let ma guess nothing, or wele lost, for I 
reckon she would nl help us; shel too particular by 
half.^^ 

^^All right, Mamie, I ^m off ; good night. I ’m afraid 
I shall have the nightmare after all you \e told me.^^ And 
she left the room on tiptoe. 

Miss Hogg bolted the door and retired, saying to her- 
self : ^1 ^m not such a fool as to tell Katy that there 1 
no chance of my marrying the captain and that I ^ve been 
insulted, yes, turned out of the house; but I shall be 
revenged on all of them ; 1 11 pulverize them ; but Katy 
must be my tool as well as ma. How I hate those aristo- 
crats! I wish I could jump on them, crush them; bad 
luck to them all with their fine airs and soft words ! They 
never seem to get into a passion or use hard words as I 
do, and yet with all their soft words and calm looks they 
send a chill of fear through me and I canl help it; my 
tongue seems powerless, and though I feel mad I canl 
bring out the words. After all, it ^s nice to have been 
born a lady. And how grand and beautiful the captain 
is ! What a difference there is between Englishmen and 
American men, some with big stomachs and short legs 
and others like skeletons. 0, my heart, donl I wish I 
could marry an Englishman! I donl relish going back 
to America without even being engaged, for my friends to 
laugh at me and say I could nl get anyone to have me 
with all my money. But 1 11 tell them that I ^m engaged; 
1 11 fool them yet if I can only keep ma’s mouth shut.^^ 
She fell asleep and dreamed that she had married the 
captain and had taken him back to America — not to her 
father’s, but to her mother’s people out West. None of 
them rejoiced at her conquest, but looked darkly at her, 
and seemed to pity Lord Montgomery, which made her 
very uncomfortable; she tossed her head and called them 
fools. Her grandmother’s eyes filled with tears,' and she 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


53 


spoke kind words to her, but she would n^t listen. Her 
cousin Tom, a young man a little older than herself, 
turned away from her in sorrow. She approached her 
grandfather and offered him a purse full of gold, but he 
pushed it away angrily. She then turned to look for 
Lord Montgomery, but he was no longer by her side; he 
seemed to be looking for something he had lost. She 
laughed to herself, for she knew where the something was 
but would not tell; her grandmother guessed it, came 
up to her and said, ^^Mamie, run after him and tell him, 
my dear;^^ but she answered, ^^hTo, never will I tell him.^^ 
They all turned away from her and she felt very lonely 
and desolate. She went up to her cousin Tom and offered 
him the bag of gold, but he pushed it away with a look of in- 
dignation; she then offered him her hand, but he pushed 
that away too, and she was heartbroken. She then looked 
around for Lord Montgomery again; she saw him, but so 
far away that he looked like a fly on the horizon ; she tried 
to run after him, but her feet seemed glued to the ground 
and she awoke with a start and a very unpleasant feeling. 
She had never seen her mother^s people, so what made her 
dream of them? She had never heard of a cousin Tom. 
Bah ! It ^s all bosh ! What a foolish dream, to be sure, and 
what do I care if they turn their backs upon me ? I have 
never seen them and likely never shall.^^ Still, she felt 
uneasy. But as it was time to get up she rang for her 
maid. 

^Ts my mother up, Katy?^^ 

^^La, yes, miss; three hours; and walking about in a 
fidget for fear you would nT get up to-day.^^ 

^^Then it must be late?^^ 

^^Sure, it^s ten o^clock.^^ 

^^Lord ^a mercy. And we that wanted to be up early ; 
we have so much to do. 'Now you skedaddle and tell ma 
to order breakfast; I 'll be down in a jiffy; I wonT say my 
prayers, I Ve no time. I’ll tell Father McGrath and 
he ^11 make it all right if I give him enough.^^ 

^^0, but you^re a devil, Mamie, said Katy, laughing 
and running away. 


54 


MISS HOGG 


CHAPTEK VII. 

After breakfast Mrs. Hogg and her daughter left the 
hotel and walked as far as Eussell Square, then called a 
passing cab. They might have taken one opposite the hotel, 
where there was a stand, but Miss Hogg was too cute for 
that. Some of her American friends might have taken 
it into their heads to question the cabman, and get on her 
track in the very first move; that would never do; so she 
called this cabman and asked him where he was going. 

hn going back to Waterloo- Station, miss, where I 
belong.^^ 

^^Are you engaged 

miss, I wish I were.^^ 

^^Well, I ’ll engage you then. Do you know the way 
about London, and can you recommend us a private hotel, 
not too expensive 

^^Yes, miss, there be one just a little higher up there,^^ 
pointing with his thumb over his shoulder in the direction 
of St. Pancras Church; ^^and as for knowing London, 
miss, I can take you from the Queen^s palace to the 
dirtiest slums in London.^^ 

They got into the cab and were driven to Thompson’s 
Hotel, where Miss Hogg alighted alone, leaving her mother 
in the cab ; after remaining in the hotel about ten minutes 
she came out again and re-entered the cab, telling the man 
to drive them about London to see the principal places — 
churches and the like. ^^Why,” replied the man, ^^here 
be a grand church, St. Pancras; high-toned folks goes 
there.” 

Mrs. and Miss Hogg stepped down and entered the 
church, walked around the interior, admired the grand 
old edifice where so many aristocratic marriages had taken 
place. The pew opener saw. that they were strangers, so 
he accosted them and offered to explain whatever interested 
them. 

Mrs. Hogg looked on, not understanding her daughter’s 
roundabout way, nor her motives for so much delay. Why 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


55 


did she not hire the cab to go straight to the home, and 
why had she engaged rooms so near the Temperance 
Hotel? They would be seen going in and out by some 
one or other who knew them; really Mamie was more 
foolish than she had thought her to be. 

As for Miss Hogg, she was questioning the man on so 
many subjects that he was getting dazed. ^^So you say 
that every church has a home for children 

^^0, no, miss,^^ replied the man, ^^but this one has ; if you 
come here on Sunday afternoons you ^11 see lots of orphans 
and what nots — I mean foundlings; the girls have white 
caps on like French girls.^^ 

^^0, yes, that must be very interesting. And you say 
the home is quite near here?^^ 

^^Yes, miss; your cabby is sure to know."^^ 

^‘^My dear, don’t you think that it ’s getting very late,” 
ventured Mrs. Hogg. 

^^All right, ma, we are going.” And giving half a 
crown to the pew opener, they left the church, and cabby 
took them to St. Pancras Home for Girls, where they re- 
mained for more than two hours. Poor cabby was tired 
walking up and down in front of the building, and his 
horse had had time to empty his nose bag. 

^^Now, cabman,” said Miss Hogg, ^Vou drive us around, 
say for an hour, and then let us out at the hotel you 
showed us.” 

He took them to St. Paul’s, but they would n’t get out ; 
they went past Picadilly and down the Strand to Eegent 
Park, and back again to Thompson’s Hotel, where they 
got out. 

^^Shall I wait for you, miss ?” asked the cabman, touch- 
ing his hat. 

^^No, you can go about your business; what do I owe 
you ?” 

^Twenty shillings, miss.” 

^^Do you take me for a fool? Did you ever hear of 
an American being taken in by an Englishman, eh, fellow ? 
I ’m going to give you these here fifteen shillings, and 
that ’s five more than your due for five hours of your time. 
Now none of your sass to me or I ’ll call for a policeman.” 

The cabman looked about him, but seeing no police- 
man, he snatched the fifteen shillings from her hand. 


56 


MISS HOGG 


jumped up on his high perch, and called out, ^^Go to the 
devil; you Yankees are no ladies^^; and putting his thumb 
to his nose, he whipped up his horse and was soon out of 
sight. 

Miss Hogg, stamping her foot with rage, yelled, ^^You 
sassy loafer, you Ye too fresh ; I guess you must have the 
jimjams.” 

^^Come, Mamie, let Y go in ; see the people in the hotel 
are looking at us through the windows. 

‘^‘^Well, let them look; that ^11 teach Ym manners;’’ 
but she went in. The cabman having disappeared there 
was nothing to keep her on the stoop. 

The hotel was a grand, old-fashioned house, more like 
a private boarding house ; very select. Mrs. Hogg whispered 
to her daughter, ^^Have you taken rooms here, Mamie? 
It is very near the hotel, my dear.” 

^^Yo, ma, I have not; I only ordered dinner, so as 
to throw the cabman off the scent. We could n’t very well 
be set down into the street; it would have looked as 
if we did n’t want him to know where we lived ; he would 
have suspected that something was going on and he would 
have followed us and found us out, don’t you see ?” 

^^Yes, dear. Well, let ’s have dinner.” 

They were shown into a private room, where a very 
good dinner was served, and where they discussed their 
day’s work. Mrs. Hogg could not praise enough the little 
girl they had chosen. She was very fair; a blonde, with 
large blue eyes, and quiet, retiring manners. The matron 
said that she must be a lady born, and if she were well 
dressed, and had long hair she would certainly be a beauty ; 
but her hair was cut so short — quite close to her head. They 
had also seen a child with black hair and eyes, and Mrs. 
Hogg would have preferred her, but her daughter would n’t 
hear of it. 

^‘^Why, ma,” she said, ^^you admired so much that little 
beauty in the country, and yet you would choose the dark 
child in preference to this fair lily.” 

^^Well, perhaps you are right, my dear, let’s take 
the fair one.” 

They had had to give references ; Mrs. Hogg had named 
the American consul, and had given the matron a note for 
him, explaining matters. They said they would call or 


!rHE AMERICAN HEIRESS 57 

send for the little girl the next day, and, putting five 
dollars in the matron’s hand, they took their departure. 

^^Now, Mamie, what do you propose to do ?” 

^^Well, ma, it ’s too late to do much more to-day; when 
we have rested we will return to our hotel, and to-morrow 
morning Katy and I will see about furnished rooms, and 
to-morrow night we 11 take the child. Katy will stay 
with her and see about dressing her as a little lady should 
be dressed ; then you can visit her every day till you leave 
for home ; her hair will have grown* long by that time, 
at least long enough not to cause remark, and she will 
have got used to us.” 

^^You have arranged everything beautifully, my dear, 
and it is so good of you to give in to my whims and help 
me as you have done.” 

^^That ’s all right, ma. I think we had better be going, 
and, mind, not a word to nobody.” 

The next day Miss Hogg and her maid went out alone, 
Mrs. Hogg declaring herself too tired to accompany her 
daughter, who returned that evening saying in the presence 
of everybody that Katy had met some of her people, and 
that she had given her a holiday for a week or two, as she 
could get along without her while at the hotel. 

That night mother and daughter discussed what had 
been done that day. Miss Hogg had taken a fine suite 
of rooms at Eichmond; she had then gone with Katy to 
one of the fashionable shops and purchased ready-made 
clothing, the richest that could be found, and had them- 
selves carried the parcel to the home, and the matron had 
dressed the child in a private room. Miss Hogg handed 
the matron a ten dollar bill, and then she, Katy, and 
the child left. They walked a few blocks, then took a 
cab and drove to Eichmond. 

The landlady had been told that the child had just 
recovered from a fever; that she needed quiet, and that 
if she made her comfortable she should be well paid for her 
trouble. The child was told that Katy was her nurse, 
and would give her cake and toys and take her for a walk 
when the weather was fine; that she was not to tell the 
landlady where she came from, or mention any of the 
children with whom she had lived. told her,” said 
Miss Hogg, ^Hhat she was to speak of me as sister Mamie, 


kiss iiOGG 

and of you as her ma. She is very intelligent and seemed 
to understand that it was for her good. When I gave her 
a doll she threw her arms round my neck and kissed me 
so affectionately that she won my heart. No one knows 
who her parents were; she was found near the home 
wrapped up in the finest of linen. She must be somebody, 
I can tell you. They found the name Isabelle de Courtney 
written on the wrapper, and so called her, but no one has 
ever made any inquyies about her.^^ 

^^Well, dear, you have arranged everything cleverly. 
We fil go to-morrow and buy a lot of dress goods and Katy 
can have a dressmaker down there who will fit her like 
a doll, with laces, ribbons, and everything that^s nice. 
I really begin to feel as proud of her as if she were my 
own.^^ 

believe you, ma, and you fil be surprised how very 
different she looks. Clothes does a great deal, whatever 
some people may say about ^beauty unadorned.^ 



THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


59 


CHAPTEKVIIL 

Time passed, and everything progressed to the satis- 
faction of Mrs. and Miss Hogg. The latter and her maid 
had frequent conferences at night regarding her plan, but 
her time was not all her own; she had to attend parties, 
balls, theaters, picnics. 

She had met Lord Montgomery several times since 
that affair, and she had forced him to speak to her in 
public ; he could not very well refuse unless he told of the 
scene at his home in Cumberland, and he would never 
have done that and be Joked and laughed at by his 
brother officers. The major already knew too much about 
Miss Hogg^s doings. So Lord Montgomery kept on speak- 
ing terms with her, and one day at a picnic she said, 
^‘^Well, lord captain, I guess I won^t see you no more, for we 
are going back to America very soon, and I can^t accept no 
more invitations, we have so many preparations to make.^^ 
He bowed in silence and manifested no regret whatever, 
which was gall to her, for she still admired him greatly. 
^^0, but wait, my fine gentleman,^^ she thought; ^^you ffl pay 
dearly for this.^^ 

Shortly after this meeting Mrs. Hogg and her daughter 
left the Temperance Hotel, and many thought they had 
returned to America, instead of which, however, they 
were comfortably settled at Eichmond, and had sent the 
greater part of their luggage to the Great Eastern 
Station to be kept until called for, so as to be more free 
to go about, and at the same time to be in readiness to 
depart at a minute^s notice if circumstances required 
it. 

Mrs. Hogg passed most of her time in the house, or 
walking with little Isabelle in the neighborhood, while 
her daughter and maid were often absent all day and 
until late at night. Had Mrs. Hogg been an English 
mother she would never have permitted her daughter to 
remain out until after niidnight without insisting upon 


60 


MISS HOGG 


knowing what had detained her and making her under- 
stand that it was not to happen again. But American 
mothers are not so particular ; many girls stay out all night 
with their friends and never think of telling their mothers 
how they have spent their time, and the mothers seem 
satisfied so long as it is not proved that their daughters 
have actually done wrong. They have no regard for 
appearances; so that Miss Hogg was perfectly free to go 
and come as she pleased without being bothered by em- 
barrassing questions from her mother. 

They had been at Eichmond for about a week when 
Miss Hogg said to her mother one evening : ^^Ma, do you 
think you could do without me and Katy for a few days? 
I want to go to Liverpool to see some of our American 
friends off. They are going to give a party before leaving ; 
they have invited me, and of course I canT go alone, can 

ip.> 

^^No, my dear; take Katy with you. But who is it — 
some one from the hotel 

^^0, dear, no; it 's Mr. and Mrs. Jackson, their son 
and two daughters, and Mr. and Mrs. Black and children.^^ 

^^Why, my dear, I had no idea that they were here ; they 
told me before we left that they were not going to travel 
this year.^^ 

^^0, I guess they changed their mind. Can we go, 
ma 

^^Yes, my dear, and if I could I would go with you ; but 
I must stay with this dear child; in fact, I like it far 
better.^^ 

^^All right, ma; me and Katy will be off early, before 
you are up, I reckon, and so I fil go to bed early if you don’t 
mind.” 

^^Yes, do so, Mamie, and mind you come back safe.” 

^^All right, ma ; don’t fret if we ’re gone a week. Good 
night, ma. And you, Isabelle, come and kiss me, little 
sister. I ’ll bring you back some new toys.” 

She hurried to her room, where her maid was waiting 
for her, and after locking the door and stuffing a piece 
of paper in the keyhole, she turned to Katy and said, 
^^Kow quick; open the parcel and let me see if the clothes 
will fit me;” and she began to undress. Putting on the 
garments handed to her 'she found herself transfonped 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


61 


into a passable looking young man; gray trousers, black 
coat buttoned up^ leaving only the collar, scarf, and rich 
diamond pih exposed to view. 

^^Now, Mamie, sit down and I ^11 help you with your 
shoes.^^ Luckily Miss Hogg had good sized feet, so that 
she really looked the young man as far as her lower limbs 
were concerned. 

^ ^^Now for the head;^^ and Katy combed up Mamie^s 
hair right on the top of her head, and pinned it there 
firmly; then taking up a rather broad-brimmed soft hat, 
with a fringe of black curly hair inside, just protruding 
a couple of inches around the back and sides, leaving 
the front bare, she adjusted it on Mamie^s head, and it 
really fitted her to perfection. The hair reached to her 
temples, leaving her forehead free. 

^^How for the mustache,^^ laughed Katy. Opening a 
small box, she displayed a fine, thick, black mustache, 
which she fastened with a spring in Mamie’s nose, which 
made her sneeze and brought tears to her eyes. 

^^0 my heart ! I shall never be able to bear it ; and the 
hair tickles my nose awfully.” 

^^0, you’ll get used to it. Come and see what a fine 
young man you are ; sure an’ faith I ’m failin’ in love 
with ye meself.” 

Miss Hogg walked to the cheval glass, and no sooner did 
she see her reflection in iL than she drew back with a 
scream. She was so transformed that she couldn’t be- 
lieve it was herself that she saw; it looked to her like a 
bold-faced young man with black hair and mustache and 
fierce black eyes, advancing towards her, and it gave her 
a fright. Then she looked again and laughed merrily 
at her appearance ; she was sure that no one could recognize 
her as Miss Hogg. She was twenty-two, and rather mascu- 
line looking, with coarse features; no one would guess 
she was a girl ; her voice might betray her if she were not 
careful, but not her appearance. 

^This ’ll do prime, Katy ; why, ma herself would n’t 
know me.” 

^^You bet, miss, I mean -sir.” 

^^Kow look here, Katy; be careful, and don’t forget 
your part; don’t call me sir, but George; and mind that 
jrou and pio are in the country for a spree,. You 


62 


MISS HOGG 


can^t come with me as my servant. Gentlemen donH 
generally take their servant girls out with them^ do 
they?’^ 

George; no, dear; you ^re my sweetheart, and I ^m 
awful proud of you. Ha, ha! But you ^11 kill me with 
laughing.^^ 

^^Well, hurry and tumble the bed as if we had slept in 
it ; and as soon as every one ^s in bed we ^11 skedaddle away, 
take the night train for Cumberland, and get there early 
to-morrow morning. Is everything in the satchel 

^^Yes, George, and it pretty heavy too; I ^m sorry for 
you, George, dear.^^ 

^^Indeed, you need n^t be, for I ’m not going to carry it, 
you bet ! Even if we are seen, and I seem to be imposing 
on the girl I love, I ^11 grin and bear it, but I won^t carry 
that thing, I guess. I ^11 tell you what, though, if we meet 
a cab we ^11 take it. How dress yourself smart in some of 
my clothes.^^ 

At about one o’clock the two left the house cautiously, s 
pulling the door to after them, and hurried away down the 
street. 

^^Hello,” called out a belated fellow, ^dook at the swell 
making his girl carry his bag!” 

George lifted his cane to give the fellow a whack, but 
Katy pulled him along, laughing so merrily that the fellow 
said, ^^Well, she ’s a trump, that gal.” 

^^How, George,” said Katy, ^dt won’t do for you to 
go and get into a row. I have enough with the bag with- 
out having you to take care of, my jewel.” 

^^Well, put that down, Katy. I see a cabby coming; I ’ll 
call him as he passes, and he ’ll think we ’ve come out of 
one of those houses.” 

They hired the cab and were soon at the station, 
but they had to wait an hour before the train started. 
They arrived in due time at a village in Cumberland, 
not more than five miles from Lady Montgomery’s man- 
sion, engaged rooms at the small tavern, and ordered 
breakfast. They were so merry that some of the folks 
said they were newly married, some that they had eloped, 
and some bad-minded persons that they were no better 
than they should be. Happily the young couple knew noth- 
ing of thi^ and seemed to be enjo 3 dng themselves iip- 


AMEKlCAir HEIRESS 63 

mensely; they went for long rides and came back late, 
but always jolly. 

A few days passed; then one day the carriage was 
brought back by a boy who said that a gentleman had given 
him five shillings to bring it back to the tavern; he also 
brought a note which contained much more than was due 
to the tavern keeper ; and the young couple disappeared as 
completely as if they had never come. 'No one knew where 
they came from nor where they had gone. 


64 


MISS HOGG 


CHAPTER IX. 

For a few days George had gone about Lady Mont- 
gomery's grounds to watch for an opportunity to abduct 
Lady Florence. He had seen her in Lady Montgomery’s 
carriage several times, or with her governess, or riding her 
white pony, attended by a man servant, but never alone. 
What was he to do ? Give it up ? Xo, never ! ^Tf I have 
to watch for a whole month I ’ll have her or my name’s 
not Mamie Hogg.” 

Well, while he was watching in the woods, among the 
deer, rabbits and squirrels, he had made the acquaintance 
of a poacher, and had told him that he was in love with 
the governess, and as he was already married he could n’t 
marry her, but he meant to run away with her; would he 
help him? He would be well paid for his trouble if 
he did what he was told to do. The poacher, who had 
neither honor nor scruples, consented, and agreed to entice 
the governess to a certain spot when she took her evening 
walk with Lady Florence. 

^^But she must not bring Lady Florence with her,” 
said George; ^^she must find some pretext for leaving her 
at some little distance and out of her sight, or the child 
will give the alarm, and that won’t do, you know.” 

^^0 leave it to me, sir ; I ’m a match for her.” 

^^All right, my good fellow. You must also have a 
carriage ready and near by — I think in that lane at the 
back of us; I think hardly anyone passes that way.” 

^^Sure, you ’re right, sir ; I can see that you understand 
your business, and this is not the first time that you’ve 
been up to this kind of game; you’re a gay spark and 
fond of the gals. As for me, I would n’t give a penny for 
the best looking one; my taste is for hares and rabbits; 
I can eat them, and I can’t eat a gal.” 

^^Well, never mind what you can eat. How will you 
entice the governess? She must come some distance into 
the wood so that the child can’t see her.” 

^^0, I know; she and the young lady are very fond of 


AMERICAN HEIRESS 6S 

the deer. I ^11 ask to speak to her out of hearing of the 
little miss, and then tell her that there ^s a deer near by 
that^s wounded, and to come and have a look at it, but 
not to bring the young lady as it might give her a fright 
to see the blood. She ^11 fall into the trap for it ^s not the 
first time that deers have been killed by such as me.^^ 

^^All right, my son, that ^11 do. Now I ^11 show you the 
spot I want her to come to, and as soon as you see me 
speaking to her you leave us together and slip off to the 
carriage, put on the livery that you ^11 find in the box, 
and be ready to start as soon as we get in. You know the 
road that you Ye to take.^^ 

should think I did; you have drummed it into my 
head, and I ainY no fool.^^ 

^^Well, now, when can this business be done? I donY 
care to remain hereabout too long; itYl look suspicious.^^ 
^^0, to-morrow, at sundown, if you wish to risk it.^^ 
will, for I ^m awfully fond of the girl. I Y1 give 
you, as I said before, twenty pounds for your trouble ; and 
mind, there Y to be no hitch or you Y1 get into trouble 
as well as me, remember that.^^ 

^^All right, sir, there Y1 be no hitch ; I Y1 be here wait- 
ing for you, sure enough, and the carriage will be ready.^^ 
^^Well, I^m off;’^ said George; have much to do.^^ 
He left the poacher and joined Katy in a by-lane on 
the other side of the park. 

^^Well, really, George, I thought you were never coming 
back, and that you had really run away with the gover- 
ness;^^ laughing aloud. 

^^DonY make such a noise, Katy; everything is fixed 
for to-morrow, so letY go.^^ 

They entered the carriage and drove away to a small 
town about ten miles distant, and engaged rooms for the 
night. 

The next morning George rode away alone, was gone 
for four hours and came back by omnibus. We have 
already seen how he had sent back the carriage to the 
tavern by a strange boy. The same afternoon George 
and Katy had hired a carriage with two good horses, and 
had driven away at a good pace, until they reached Lady 
MqjitgomeryY grounds. Then they had gone cautiously 
by a narrow lane near the road, had told the cabman to 


C(} 


Miss MOGG 


wait, and had gone into the park together but had soon 
separated. George had left Katy behind a bush, and told 
her once more what she had to do. 

^^0, I know well enough what I ought to do, George, 
but I getting scared ; I feel my knees knocking together ; 
if we are caught what will happen 

^^All kinds of horrors will happen,^’ said George, an- 
grily, ^‘^so we must not be caught. Do you hear? And 
you ^d better hurry, for there the governess and the child 
coming out of the house.^^ And George left her to join 
the poacher. 

He said a few words to him and then disappeared 
among the trees, w^hile the poacher watched the approach 
of the governess and child. When he thought that they 
were near enough for his purpose he walked toward them 
hurriedly as if he wished to speak to them. The governess 
stopped and looked at him haughtily, saying, ^‘What are 
you doing in the park?^^ 

miss, I want to speak to you a minute. I know 
that I have no right here, but something has happened and 
I dare n’t tell it before the little miss.” 

The governess took a few steps toward the wood, 
motioning to her charge to wait for her where she was. 

^^Well, what is it — have you murdered some one, or 
what?” 

miss; I ain’t so bad as all that; I can poach and 
kill a rabbit now and then. It ’s one of the large deers that 
has been wounded, and I want you to see it. I didn’t 
dare go to the lodge, for Harrison would have sworn I did 
it, and I did n’t, miss ; upon my soul I did n’t.” 

^Hs it far off?” 

^^Ho, miss, just here;” and they entered the wood to- 
gether, and had gone but a short distance when they saw a 
dark gentleman coming toward them. 

^^0, that must be my lord !” cried the poacher ; and 
he took to his heels and disappeared in the wood. 

The governess looked about for the deer, but could n’t 
see it. The gentleman approached her, and bowing politely, 
yet not raising his hat, asked her if that fellow had insulted 
her. 

^^0, no,” replied the governess, ^^le mistook you for my 
lord and ran away; he is a well known poacher and was 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


67 


about to show me a deer which he said had been wounded ; 
but now that he has run away I am at a loss where to look 
for it/" 

^^Here, fellow^ come back/" shouted George; but no 
fellow made his appearance; so he offered his services to 
the governess, who accepted them willingly, as she was 
anxious to find the deer ; but though they looked in every 
bush and frightened live ones, they found no wounded 
one. 

After hunting for half an hour the governess gave it 
up, thanked the gentleman for his courtesy, and said, 
suppose that you are a friend of Lord Montgomery."" 

‘^1 am, and was taking a short cut to reach the house 
sooner."" 

^^And I have delayed you; accept my excuses, sir."" 

^^Certainly, madam, I am only sorry that we did not 
find the deer."" And he bowed, still retaining his hat, 
which surprised her very much. He left her and walked 
towards the house, and she hurried to her charge, whom 
she had almost forgotten in her anxiety for the deer. 

George retraced his steps, reached the lane, and jumped 
into the cab in apparent ill humor. 

^^Where"s the lady?"" asked the poacher. ‘^^Wouldn"t 
she come?"" 

^^The lady, indeed ! She "s not the right one ; and all 
this trouble and expense is for nothing; she"s as ugly 
as sin."" 

^^So she be, sir; and I wondered at your taste, but as 
love is blind I said nothing. Indeed it would need a great 
deal of love to be blind in this case ; she "s a fright ! But 
about my money, sir?"" 

the devil take you, you "11 get it. But drive on. If 
my wife hears of this there "11 be the devil to pay. She 
looked at me very queerly when I left her and I told her 
that I would be away three weeks. ^You may not be away 
as long as you expect, dear," she replied with a curious 
smile. So drive on smart."" 

^^The road you told me, sir?"" 

^^Certainly; just as I told you."" 

And the coachman, in his green livery, whipped up his 
horses and soon disappeared in the darkness. George 
had done his part cleverly. 


68 


MISS HOGG 


CHAPTEK X. 

As soon as George had left Katy she worked her way 
among the trees till she almost reached the spot where the 
poacher met the governess^ and, crouching behind the 
trunk of a large oak tree, in the long grass, she heard every 
word that passed between them, and could take her clew 
from that. Her dress was dark and soft ; it made no noise. 
As soon as the governess and the poacher had got into 
the thickest of the wood she came out of her hiding place 
and walked quietly toward the litle girl, who was amusing 
herself plucking daisies. She went around so that she 
could face her and the child could see her coming towards 
her and not be alarmed by having her come from behind 
her. 

The girl walked up at her approach and asked her, 
^^Have you seen Miss Wilson 

Katy guessed that it was her governess she was speak- 
ing about, and she answered, ^^Yes, dear; you are Lady 
Florence, I believe 

^^Yes ; did she send you to me?^^ 

^^She did; I was just passing in my carriage when I 
heard some one calling. I looked out of the window and 
saw a lady who seemed in great distress; she asked me 
to send my coachman to fetch a little girl about eight 
years old that she was governess for; she had left her in 
the park while she. went to see a wounded deer. The 
deer is dying, and she wished Lady Florence to see it, as 
it was her favorite one. I said that the child might be 
afraid to come with a strange man and that the horses 
could not be left alone; if they were to move I could 
never manage them, but that I would go if she would tell 
me where she had left you. Kow, my dear, will you come, 
or are you afraid of me 

am not afraid of anyone, replied the child, proudly ; 
•T will go. Make haste; I want to see my deer before he 
dies/^ " 


THE AMEiilCAiS^ HEIRESS 


69 


^^Come this way, my child. I ordered my coachman 
to meet us at this side of the park; it won't take us so 
long to go by the lane as through all those bushes and 
taking the child by the hand, she hurried her away. 

Lady Florence had no need of urging; she began to 
run and Katy had hard work to keep up with her without 
running too. When she reached the place where she had 
left her carriage she found the coachman fast asleep on his 
box; so she got in with the child, and pulling the string, 
she awoke him and called out, ^^Hurry up, Tom; it is 
getting late;^^ and off they went at a gallop. ^^We have to 
hurry, you know, my dear, or it will be too dark for you 
to see the deer.^^ 

^^What beautiful flowers said the child, picking up 
a bouquet from the front seat; ^^may I smell them?^^ 

^^Certainly, my dear, you can have it for yourself if you 
want it.^^ 

^^0, thank you.^^ And the child buried her face in the 
flowers. Soon her hands dropped in her lap and the 
bouquet fell to the floor. 

Katy gave it a kick which sent it far under the seat, 
and taking the child, who was fast asleep, she laid her 
gently on the front seat, and said, ^^What a lovely child ! 
Ko wonder Mamie is jealous of her ! I wonder what she ^s 
going to do with her ! If I ^m caught I fll tell it was all 
Miss Hogg^s doings.^^ 

After an houFs ride the carriage stopped in a dark lane 
near the main road. It had not been there many minutes 
when another carriage was heard coming at good speed 
down the main road; it stopped at the head of the lane 
and a man alighted and said to the coachman, ^^We have 
lost them; I no longer hear the carriage. We must have 
lost them at the crossroads; they must have kept straight 
on, or stopped while we passed them and turned on this 
road. I ^m sure that I heard them far ahead."^^ 

^^You must be right, Harrison. I am sure that I heard 
them myself. What shall I do, turn back and take the 
other road? There may be a chance of catching them 
yet ; their horses canT be as good as ours.^^ 

^^Yes, John, we had better turn back; it is getting so 
dark that I can scarcely see my hapd before me/^ anc]. 


MISS HOGG 


70 

SO saying, he walked near the head of the lane and looked ; 
but it was so dark that he did nH see the catriage, which 
was only about ten yards away from him. He then went 
back, re-entered his carriage, and they turned about and 
went back at a gallop, to the great relief of Katy, who had 
been very much alarmed during the dialogue. 


THE AMEniCAISr HEIRESS 


n 


CHAPTER XI. 

When Katy had heard the sound of carriage wheels 
she had felt sure that it was George, and had been on 
the point of calling out to him; but luckily for herself 
and George she did not. When she heard the voice she 
knew at once that it was not George, but who could it 
be ? She did not have to wait long for an answer to this 
question. Some one was already on their track; a fine 
mess they had made of it ! Why should they take it into 
their heads to turn into the lane? She was lost! Was 
she to remain where she was and be caught like a rat in 
a trap ? I guess not. She had not been born in America, 
and lived there for twenty years without knowing a thing 
or two; and though her knees trembled so that she could 
hardly stand, the fear of being caught gave her strength, 
and she would show Miss Hogg that she was every bit 
as cute as she herself was; so at the first word she heard 
she opened the carriage door as gently as possible, and 
taking the sleeping child in her arms, she alighted, and 
creeping along the hedge for some distance she managed 
to get over it, and when on the other side, she retraced her 
steps' and stopped quite near to where the two men were 
talking, in order to hear, if possible, what their intentions 
were, and to shape her course accordingly. She crouched 
close to the hedge in the long grass ; as she did this a dry 
branch snapped, and to her fear-stricken mind it sounded 
like a cannon shot. She expected to see the men jump the 
hedge and seize her, but they had not even heard the 
noise, as their horses were kicking the ground with im- 
patience to get away. She felt much relieved when they 
had gone; still, she was uncertain what to do; if she 
returned to her carriage they, or others on the hunt, might 
find it. She could not run from them; they would be 
sure to catch her. And again, she was at the appointed 
place; George would come for her there if he could come 
at all; but if she left the place, and the others were in 
]iot pursuit, where could she find him? She had no wish 
to take all the responsibility on her own shoulders; no, she 
must stay where she was and be on the watch for George. 


Miss ttoaa 

When her cabman was tired of waiting he could go away 
if he chose; it might be as well if lie did. What fun! 
What would he think when he found his cab empty? 

But should the child wake what would she do? A 
cold shiver ran down her back, and she again became 
weak at the knees. She fancied that she already felt the 
child moving. What if she should awake and scream, 
as would be natural enough, finding herself in total dark- 
ness in a field, with a strange woman? Katy trembled 
all over and repented having had anything to do with 
the matter. They would both find themselves in jail, and 
that was no fun; they could not escape. 

But no sound of carriage wheels was to be heard. 
What was he doing? Had he been caught, if not by those 
who had Just left, perhaps by others? For when once 
the alarm was given that the young lady was missing, 
there would be a crowd of servants hunting for her ; and 
the police must already know all about it. ^Tf Miss Hogg 
is arrested she will deny everything and I shall have to 
bear all the blame,^^ thought Katy, and the perspiration ran 
down her face like beads. 

^^The child is really moving. What shall I do? I 
must do something. George may come yet. If I had 
those flowers I would put her to sleep again. I must 
get them at all hazard and, though trembling with fear, 
she managed to slip the child from her lap to the ground 
and to creep along the hedge for a few yards; she then 
climbed over it and found herself in the lane a short dis- 
tance from the cab. She walked cautiously and yet 
hurriedly, for she feared the child would awake before 
she could get back to her. She did not wish her cabman 
to see her, for should he be caught he would be sure to 
betray her. She thought it safer to remain in the field 
where George was sure to come, if he himself was not 
caught, than to trust herself with the child to the care of 
the cabman, who had no interest in the matter except his 
fare. So, approaching the cab cautiously, holding her 
very breath, she reached the door, which she had left open, 
and thrusting in her hand she got the bouquet and also a 
rug, and rolling the bouquet into the rug, she hurried away, 
hearing the cabman say : ^TTow long are we to stay here ? 
I did nT agree to pass the night out. — They certainly 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


73 


must be asleep in there, for I have already asked them 
twice. — I say, you people inside there, are you asleep or 
what ? I ^m getting sleepy myself and I want to go home. 
— 0, 1 ^11 get down and wake them. Hello, the door ^s open 
and the cab empty; they Ve fooled me. How long have 
they been gone, I wonder. They must have gone in that 
other cab that was here half an hour ago. It was all a 
trick, pretending to be chasing game. If ever I \e been 
fooled in my life I have been this time, and the less I say 
about it the better it ^11 be for me, for if it was known 
amongst the fellows I ^d be their laughing stock. To stand 
in a dark lane for an hour or more with an empty cab 
and talk to the wind. Well, I ^m blamed ! If I had that 
swell and his girl here I ^d give him my mind.^^ 

It will be remembered that the man was asleep when 
Katy got in with the child, and he had no idea that the 
occupants of his carriage were not the same people that 
he had taken down to the park. He knew the road that 
he was to take on leaving the park, and where to stop, 
but for how long, he had not been told; so he had waited 
and had had two or three naps ; but at last he had got tired 
and called to his fares, but receiving no answer had stepped 
down to find his cab empty ; so mounting his box again, 
not in the best of humors, and lashing his poor horses as 
if they were to blame, he turned into the main road, taking 
the same road as the other cab, and Katy was left alone 
with the child, a prey to great anxiety. 

She had reached the child just in time to give her 
another dose of the sleeping draught; and, wrapping her 
in the rug, she laid her on the grass, and waited for George, 
planning what she should do if the latter did not make 
his appearance. She must wait till nearly daylight. If 
he had not come by that time she would put the child 
in the lane against the hedge, well wrapped in the rug, — 
that would tell no tales, it belonged to the cabman, — 
and she would leave her there, go to the nearest station, 
and return to London. Ko one could prove that she had 
had a hand in the affair. Still, she felt very uneasy. What 
could have happened to George? Whatever it was he could 
not have betrayed the place of appointment or they would 
have come straight there, and she had seen no one — noth- 
ing except the carriage in pursuit. 


74 


MISS HOGG 


CHAPTEE XII. 

After riding for some time George ordered the poacher 
to stop, and listening attentively for a moment, he thought : 
‘^1 was not mistaken ; I hear carriage wheels following us ; 
but who is it, friends or foes? It may be Katy running 
after me instead of going to the appointed place, being 
afraid in the dark, and it may be some one from the 
mansion. Perhaps they have already missed Lady Flor- 
ence ; but that can hardly be ; it is too early yet ; they have 
had no time. I wish I knew who it is; how shall I find 
out 

^^Well, sir, is there anything the matter? Where do 
you want me to go?’^ 

^^I wish to find out who is following us ; I ^m afraid 
it is my wife. Can you manage to find out without letting 
them come up with us? I hate a scene, and if it should 
be my wife there will be no end to her tongue; she has 
a terrible temper.^^ 

^^0, all right, sir ; I ^11 fix matters if we can only reach 
the crossroad ; there ^s a field ; we will run into it ; the 
gate is always open; we can close it after us and stay 
there snug enough till they pass us, and I ^11 have a peep 
over the hedge and find out who it is if it is n’t too dark.” 

^^All right, go ahead ; I see you ’re a sharp fellow,” was 
George’s answer, and they did go ahead; but whatever it 
was following was going ahead also, and gaining fast 
upon them. 

The poacher whispered, ^^That ’s never cab horses that ’s 
coming behind us. Who can it be? If you had the 
governess with you, sir, I ’d say that we ’re pursued, and 
that those horses belongs to Lady Montgomery; but as 
you have n’t, it must be your wife, as you said, and as 
you don’t want to have it out with her in the open country, 
why, we’ll run into the field and wait till she’s cooled 
down a bit.” 

They reached the crossroad and a little beyond; they 
turned to the left and ran on soft ground; they were 


(THi^ AI^tERtCAK i-lEIHEB^ ?5 

in the field; the poacher closed the gate and led his 
horses a few 3 ^ards from the gate behind a clump of trees. 
"‘Now/^ said he, ^‘you keep quiet> and 1^11 have a look at 
them as they pass."^ 

^^All right/^ replied George ; ^^but 1 hear two carriages 
now, don^t you?’^ 

The poacher listened and said, ^^Yes, the one near us, 
and the other far away on the right; perhaps they will 
take it for ours and leave us in peace.^^ 

But they held their breath, for the carriage was ap- 
proaching nearer andmearer until it stopped before reach- 
ing the gate, and the party inside and the coachman con- 
sulted as to what road they should take. ^^Listen,^^ said 
the coachman, ^^donT you hear carriage wheels at a distance 
on our right? They must have good horses; I had no 
idea they were so far ahead.^^ 

^^Yes, I hear; donT let us waste time, but go like the 
wind. It is a matter of life and death. I had just time 

to send to Lady Montgomery to tell her that 

But the listeners heard no more. ^^What can be the 
matter said the poacher ; they Ye not after us ; there Y 
something else — something very grave the matter from 
what we heard them say. The man inside is Harrison, the 
lodge keeper. How he came to be in Lady Montgomery's 
carriage instead of on horseback is beyond me. How, sir, 
if you wish to go to the railway station that you told me 
of we shall have to follow the same road that they have 
taken; but it canY matter; they're not after us, and 
there ’s no sign of your wife yet."^^ 

^‘^Let Y wait a little longer,^^ said George, who did not 
know exactly how to act. He knew that Katy was in^ 
the carriage in the distance, that Harrison was after that ' 
carriage, and that it would not be long before he reached 
it ; probably they would meet at the head of the lane, and 
Katy, mistaking it for his cab, would fall into HarrisonY 
hands. There seemed no way of escape or of warning 
her. 

Miss Hogg was brave and fond of adventure, but this 
was getting too hot ; she had not expected that they would 
be on her track so soon. 

How had they discovered the disappearance of Lady 
Florence? Perhaps by some mismanagement of Katy in 


% Miss ho(^(^ 

her hurry to get the child away; perhaps she had forced 
her away and she had screamed^ and^ of course^ was heard, 
and perhaps seen, by some one who gave the alarm; and 
though perhaps Katy had been able to reach her cab and 
drive away through the lanes as they had agreed, they 
had given chase, but to him, not her, so that she was likely 
to reach the appointed place in safety; but he would not 
be there to help her; she would stay there, of course, 
waiting for him, and would be caught and brought back. 

What a mess Katy had made of it ! W^ould she tell who 
had employed her to steal the child? Surely not; it 
could do her no good ; still, he could hardly believe that she 
would remain silent and perhaps undergo a term of im- 
prisonment for his sake. She had no object herself in 
taking the child, and would naturall}^ say so; then, by 
questioning her they would soon discover who had tempted 
her to the deed. 

He had come to a dead halt ; he did n^t dare go to the 
meeting place, nor to go away v/ithout knowing what was 
going to happen to Katy. That she would be taken there 
could be no doubt whatever ; even if she made a run for it 
that would nT change matters. 

Where could she go ? If she went to the railway station 
she would be nabbed by the police, who were very likely 
waiting for her there. It was a bad business altogether; 
the papers would be full of it. 

And so poor George worked himself into a fever, 
and certainly his position was no more enviable than was 
Katyas. 

^"What do you wish me to do?^^ said the poacher. 
^^Shall we take the road these parties have gone by or shall 
I take you to the station by a roundabout way?’^ 

^AVell, wait a little longer; perhaps they will come 
back ; then the road will be clear. I donT hear the 
carriage now, do you?^^ 

^^Ko, sir, neither of them.^^ 

^^ 0 /’ thought George, ^They Te at the head of the lane 
by this time, and have got Katy and the child. I feel as 
Katy did — ^my knees trembling and a cold shiver running 
down my spine. I did nT know I was such a coward. 
Come, Mamie Hogg, what are you m.ado of, to give 
way like this at the first check? There would be no fun in 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 'S"^ 

it if it had all gone smoothly. Come now, there must be 
a way out, and 1 shall find it.^^ 

hear carriage wheels, sir.’^ 

^^One or two carriages?'^ asked George. 

^^Only one so far,^^ replied the poacher, ^^and if I ^m 
not mistaken they^re coming this way at a furious rate. 
Shall we stay here till they've passed us?’^ 

^^Yes ; but let us try and see if there anyone in the 
carriage besides Harrison.^^ 

^^All right, sir, we can do that easy; the moon is now 
up, and if no cloud hides it when they pass us we can 
easily see if there is more than one in the carriage. Here 
they are ; let ^s be on the lookout and each hid behind 
a bush in the hedge. 

A dark cloud at that moment coverea the moon, ao 
that, though they could hear the carriage, they could no 
longer see it ; but they heard the coachman call out, ^^Which 
way, up or down?^^ 

^^Up, of course,^^ was the answer, and up they came, 
passing the gate where George was. 

A moment more and the road would have been clear 
for him to reach the meeting place, though he hardly 
now expected to find Katy there; but, as ill luck would 
have it, one of the poacher’s horses neighed just as the 
others passed the gate. I suppose, hearing his own kind, 
he spoke to him in his own way ; but as soon as it happened 
the carriage stopped at about fifteen yards from the gate ; 
they were going at such a rate that the horses could not 
be pulled up sooner. If George had felt discouraged 
before how must he have felt now? Well, not so bad as 
might have been expected. He would have to use his 
wits, and he meant to do it. As quick as lightning a plan 
entered his head ; he knew that they had not found Katy, 
and that kno|vdedge gave him courage. He waited to see 
what their next move would be and he did not have to wait 
long. 

^^There they are,’^ called out Harrison, jumping out 
and rushing to the gate. 

’ll manage Harrison if you ’ll tackle the coachman 
and keep him from interfering with me,” whispered 
George; and getting behind the gate, he threw his whole 
weight against it. 


'^'8 


MISS MOGO 


^^But it not ns they want^ sir/^ 

^^You hold your tongue and do as I tell you; push 
with your whole strength, and when I say ^Let go/ 
then let go, and tackle your man; it will be easy/^ 

Harrison had pushed the gate, thinking it was open, 
for there was no lock on it, but as it did not give way he 
tried the other way, thinking that it must open on the 
inside, but it did n’t; so he called to John to come and help 
liim, and they both pushed with all their might. 

^^They may not be there/’ said John; ^ht may be only 
one of the horses that has been left out.” 

^^Yo, it isn’t; I just heard a whispering. How then, 
once more; push together.” And they rushed together 
with all their might against the gate, Avhich flew open, 
and the two men fell flat to the ground half stunned, 
and blood issuing from their mouths and noses. 

Harrison did not seem able to get up; the coachman 
looked about him as if he did not know where he was, and 
when he would have arisen the poacher gave him a blow 
on the ear that laid him low again. Then looking for 
George, who was nowhere to be seen, he saw the carriage 
that had been left in the road going back at full gallop 
over the road they had passed; but whether they were 
running away or being driven away he couldn’t tell. 
They must be running away; something has frightened 
them; they are spirited horses; they have taken the bit 
between their teeth and will smash the carriage. But 
where ’s the gentleman ? He must have run away or per- 
liaps is hiding in the cab; but he was not in the cab. 
Pie did n’t know what to do ; should he wait for him 
or what ? He looked at the two men ; they certainly looked 
bad. Harrison’s head had hit a stone and was bleeding 
profusely; he must not be left there to die; the other was 
still stunned. He must put them both in th« cab, tie their 
hands, drive back to Lady Montgomery’s, ring the bell, 
and leave them at the lodge. Then he would return. If 
he was stopped on the way he would say that he had found 
these men on the road and was bringing them back, as 
he knew Harrison to be Lady Montgomery’s lodge keeper. 

So he nianaged to drag the two men to his cab and get 
them in; he tied their hands tightly behind their backs 
with their handkerchiefs, and leading his horses out of the 


THE AHEKICAH HEIRESS 


79 


field, he closed the gate, mounted his box, and drove away 
towards the lodge, which he had almost reached, when a 
horseman came out of the gate at full speed and nearly 
collided with his cab. 

The rider reined up and asked, ^^Who are you, and what 
do you want at the house 

The poacher was well disguised in his green livery; 
no one would have looked for him in that guise. Lord 
Montgomery did not recognize him — for it was Lord Mont- 
gomery. 

^m a cabman, sir,^^ said the poacher. \e brought 
a fare to the tavern yonder, and was going back to the 
station. I heard a carriage a tearing away as if the 
devil was after it, and I be thinking Them horses is 
running away with the bit between their teeth,^ and sure 
enough, as they passed me like the wind the reins were 
hanging about their legs, no coachman on the box, and 
the door hanging wide open; there was no one inside, and 
as I could n’t stop it I went on my way, and about a mile 
further I saw by the moonlight two black things right in 
the middle of the road. I got down to see what it could 
be, and it was as I had suspected, the owners of the run- 
awa}^ carriage; the coachman must have lost control of 
his horses, the man inside tried to get out to help him, and 
they were both dashed to the ground. I picked them up 
and I have them here.” 

^^Are they dead ?” asked the captain, dismounting ; and 
throwing the bridle over his arm he walked towards the 
cab. 

^^0, no, sir ; but they be very much hurt, I ’m thinking, 
and no senses at all;” and opening the cab door he bent 
over them apparently to see how they were, but in reality 
untying their hands and stuffing the handkerchiefs in 
their pockets. 

^^Where am I ?” murmured the coachman, ^Tnd where ’s 
— where ’s — 0, my head ’s awful bad.” 

‘^^Can I take him to the lodge?” asked the poacher, 
who feared to be compromised by the man now that he was 
recovering. 

^^Yes, my man, you had better do so. I must be off 
myself, or I would go with you. Here, take this for your 
trouble,” and he gave him a sovereign and rode away. 


80 


HISS HOGG 


The poacher hurriedly closed the door, and climbing 
up on his box he lashed his horses and was soon at the lodge 
door. He told Mrs. Harrison that an accident had hap- 
pened to her husband and the coachman, and my lord 
had sent him back with them to the lodge. He was a 
stranger in these parts himself, and ought to be back 
at his master’s by this time. If she would tell him what 
to do with the men he would carry them in. 

But when Mrs. Harrison saw her husband covered with 
blood she uttered a scream and fainted away, leaving the 
way clear for the poacher, who hurriedly brought the men 
in on his back and laid them on the floor. He was going 
to carry Mrs. Harrison in also, but seeing signs of her 
recovery, he mounted his box and drove away, going 
through a lane of which he knew, and which would take 
him to the field where he supposed that George was in 
hiding. 

But George had not wasted his time hiding. As soon as 
he realized that Harrison was senseless on the ground, 
and that the poacher was likely to be a match for the coach- 
man, he rushed into the road where the carriage was, 
jumped on the box and drove away at a furious rate after 
turning the carriage round. 

^^How'for Katy,” he thought; ^^if she is still there we 
may succeed yet, and if not, I ’ll drive till I get near the 
station and then I ’ll let these horses loose, and it will be 
thought that they have run away. If I can save Katy 
I will, but if not, I must save myself.” 

He soon reached the place and turned into the lane, 
but no cab ; ^^0, it ’s too bad after all this trouble ; where 
is she? 0, I think I shall go mad this night,” he said 
aloud. 

honey, you won’t,” a voice answered behind the 

hedge. 

^^ 0 , is that you, Katy ? Come, be quick ; we ’re followed. 
Have you the child?” 

^^Yes ; help me with her over the hedge ; I ’m almost 
crazy waiting for you. How came you to be dressed 
like a coachman? Where did you get that cape?” 

^^On the box here. But don’t let ’s talk now ; we ’re in 
great danger. This is Lady Montgomery’s carriage — what 
do you think of that, eh ? I ’ll tell you all about it When 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 81 

we ^re safe. What the matter with you, that makes you 
walk so?'^ 

guess you walk as bad if you 'd been cramped 
up in a heap as I been for hours waiting for you ; and 
I got a tale to tell you too/^ said Katy. 

After getting into the carriage George gave her the 
child, and, remounting the box, he drove olf at full gallop, 
but not to the station, as he had intended doing had 
they not been followed so quickly. 

Miss Hogg was a good rider, and a good driver too — 
a real tomboy; but she did n‘t know her way very well in 
these parts, and she Vvdslied more than once that the 
poacher was with her. She drove into a lane which led 
to a farmhouse, and had to turn back; it was a great 
waste of time ; and when she reached the main road she was 
puzzled to know whether to turn to the right or to the 
left; she got down to ask Katy and found her fast asleep 
in the carriage, so that she had to dispense with her 
opinion. Poor George ! He was nonplused and getting 
very tired; what could he do? He was still deliberating 
when he heard the gallop of a horse; he backed sharply 
into the lane, just in time to escape being seen by the 
horseman, who was no other than Lord Montgomery, who 
kept straight on his way, never thinking of looking in a 
lane that he well^knew only led to a farm, and none but 
a fool would enter such a trap. He was going to the rail- 
way station to ascertain if there was any news of Florence, 
never dreaming that she was so near for he very naturally 
thought they were far away by this time or caught at 
some station. ^^We shall soon hear of them,^^ he thought. 
^^What a pity that Harrison and the coachman were hurt ! 
They might have overtaken them, for they must have had 
a carriage or how could they have taken the child away, 
and how came she not to call for her governess? If she 
had called she would have been heard even from the 
lodge. I don’t understand it at all, for Florence is brave, 
and would not be taken against her will without a struggle ; 
she must have been coaxed and deceived, and not forced. 

I wonder who did the deed — could it be Miss Hogg? 
What would be her motive? And the disgrace and 
punishment she would bring on herself; and what would 
she gain by it? Kothing whatever; so it was not she, but 


82 


MISS HOGG 


some showman who had been attracted by her great 
beauty/^ 

He arrived at the station and saw the detective pacing 
the platform, and though he saw Lord Montgomery he took 
no notice of him, but walked away to the other end of the 
platform^ seemingly very impatient for the arrival of 
the train. Lord Montgomery wished to speak to him; 
it was important that he should do so; and yet he knew 
that the detective must have good reasons for avoiding 
him. Perhaps he had a clew; and, as he was deliberating 
whether to go back ^without speaking to the detective or 
to wait there until the detective came to him, he saw a 
ragged looking man approaching him in a slouching, 
lazy manner, who said in a coarse, stupid way, ^^Shall I hold 
your horse, sir?^’ touching the bridle with his dirty hand. 
Then looking at Lord Montgomery Avith bright, intelli- 
gent black eyes, he whispered, ^Tlave you any news, sir? 
We have none as yet. If you have something to say to Mr. 
AValgrave I T1 manage it for you; I ^m one of his men.'^ 

right, my man, 3 ^ou can hold my horse ; but first 
go and see if there is a small parcel for Lady Montgomery. 
Tell Mr. Walgrave that I must speak to him near here,” 
he Avhispered, and the man walked away Avith the same 
shuffling gait that he came with, and slouched into the 
office. 

The detective Avas just going in fuming with impatience 
and saying in a loud voice, ^^Will the train never come? 
What^s the cause of the delay? It must be an hour 
behind time.” 

^^What train do you refer to ?” asked the clerk. 

The tramp-looking man had been scribbling some- 
thing on a piece of paper, just behind the detective, Avho 
stood Avith his hands behind his back, holding a leather 
bag, and in his impatience changing it from one hand 
to the other. The tramp, who also seemed to have busi- 
ness with the clerk, approached the window, and in pass- 
ing the detective slipped the paper into his hand and 
knocked clumsily against him. 

^^Hello, fellow. What are you doing here ? Is n’t 
the place large enough for you that you must nearly knock 
me doAvn?” 


(fHE A]S£:^RlOAi^ MEIRRSS 83 

The tramp looked daggers at him, mumbling that 
he was as good as any man, and drew back. 

"‘Well, what place did you say?^^ asked the clerk 
again. 

“0,*' said the detective, “let me see^^ — ^looking all 
the time at the piece of paper given to him by the tramp 
— “well, it ^s Birmingham, I mean.^^ 

“We have no trains to Birmingham; the next one is 
for London, and from London you can go to Birmingham ; 
but there are no trains for two hours yet.^^ 

“Two hours, did you say?^^ — and he wrote it down in 
his note book. The clerk did not answer, but turned to 
the tramp and asked what he wanted. 

“I want a parcel for Lady Montgomery.^^ 

“Are you her servant 

“Sure, I be,^^ answered the tramp, putting his hands 
in his trousers pockets and straightening himself up. 

“Get out with you ! There ^s no parcel, and if there 
was you would nT get it, so get out.^^ 

“Why should I get out? Ain’t I as good as you? A 
man’s a man, whether he’s dressed in fine clothes or 
rags ; and 1 ’m better looking than you are, though you 
may not think so.” 

The detective laughed. He had been putting down 
time of departure for London. He now put his note book 
in his pocket and managed to drop a leaf of it on the 
lloor, and laughingly turning away, he walked out as the 
clerk was saying angrily, “If you don’t clear out I ’ll 
spoil that beauty of yours, my fine fellow.” 

“You can’t do it,” said the tramp, picking up a dirty 
piece of rag that he called handkerchief. 

He had picked up, with his handkerchief, the piece 
of paper dropped by the detective, and after he left the 
office he opened it out and held it before him, seemingly 
admiring it; he then walked back to where he had left 
Lord Montgomery, and saying, “There isn’t any parcel, 
sir,” slipped the paper into his hand, while seemingly 
holding his horse for him to dismount, adding, “you 
will find Mr. Walgrave behind the station; he is waiting 
for you. It is very dark, shall I show you the way?” — 
and he walked the horse toward the gable. They had 
been standing under the lighted station, consequently could 


MISS nom 


84 

not see so well in the dark^ and they did n’t see the detec- 
tive^ blit he saw them, and hurrying towards them, said, 
^^This way, my lord, and you, Stephen, tie the horse to 
that ring and be off and ready to represent me in two 
hours at the station. Follow anyone you see with a 
fair little girl, or a child wrapped up, or apparently sick, 
for it is hard to tell how they are going to try to smuggle 
her away.’’ 

^‘'All right, sir, and when and where shall I meet you 
again?” asked Stephen. 

^AVell, it v/ill depend; should you have to follow by 
train leave word at the ticket office for me and telegraph 
to London for aid in case of need, and also here at head- 
quarters, to let me know your movements. If I don’t hear 
from you I ’ll come in some guise and relieve you. Don’t 
show yourself as a tramp again.” 
sir.” 

Throwing off his ragged coat and trousers, and jamming 
the old hat into one of the pockets, he put the bundle into 
the detective’s leather bag, and walked away into the 
station with his bag in his hand, and to all appearance 
the same gentleman who wanted to go to Birmingham. 

All this was very well acted, but so far it was labor 
lost. The guilty parties for whom this trap was set were 
far away and in great trouble themselves. 

^^Come this way, my lord, it would not be safe to 
stay here too long.” 

^^But my horse,” said Lord Montgomery. 

^^0, it will be all right there; no one will think it 
strange; you will be supposed to have gone into the 
station.” 

They walked away, going into a kind of garden be- 
longing to the station master, and going behind the sum- 
merhouse they sat down on the trunk of an old tree. 

^^Now, my lord, what news have you? As for me, 
I have none whatever. I have been here watching and 
no one has gone by train accompanied by any child, 
large or small ; I am positive of that.” 

have no news either,” replied the captain; came 
here hoping that you had succeeded in tracing them, 
whoever they ma)" bo. All the news I have is that as I 
came out of the park^ gate T met a enbman coming to the 


lodge bringing back our coachman and Harrison, whom 
lie had found senseless on the road; he thought they 
had been thrown senseless from the carriage, as he had 
passed an empty one about a mile from where he had found 
the men/^ 

The detective slapped his knees with his open hands 
and said ^^There ^s a clew at last. Who was that cabman, 
and how came he to bring the two senseless men to the 
lodge ? He must have known them.^^ 

^^He did not say, and 1 was in a hurry to get here and 
did nT ask many questions, but told him to go to the lodge. 
I asked him if they were dead; he said no, but very 
much hurt. What clew do. you see in that 

H see this, my lord: that your coachman was not 
likely to allow his horses to get the better of him; nor 
were such well trained horses likely to take the bit be- 
tween their teeth; and as the carriage was not smashed 
how came the men to be hurt? The coachman was not 
the man to fall off his seat, no matter how fast the horses 
went; and how came Harrison, who was in the coach, 
to be found on the road near the coachman, even supposing 
that the coachman had fallen off his seat? The horses 
would have run a long-distance at the rate that runaway 
horses usually go, before Harrison could have jumped out, 
and such a man as Harrison was not likely to hurt himself, 
and even so, he would not have been found near the coach- 
man. It is more probable that they overtook the carriage 
running away with the young lady ; that a battle followed, 
and your people got the worst of it and were sent back in 
the very carriage they had overtaken ; and that 3 ^our horses, 
being much superior to theirs, were used to run away with 
your cousin; so that we have a clew, as I said before. I 
must see the men and hear what they have to say, and 
then get track of your carriage; when we have done that 
we will be on the track of the miscreant. So let us go, my 
lord, we must not waste time.'’’ 

^^Yes, you had better take my horse,” said the captain. 

^^0, no, I have my own near by,” said Mr. Wal grave. 
Hf you will go ahead I will overtake you on the road.” 

This was done, and they galloped until they reached 
the lodge, which was more brilliantly lighted than usual 
and people were coming and going as if something serious 




86 

had happened. They went in; men and women gervants 
from the mansion were there. Mrs. Harrison stood weep- 
ing> with her apron to her eyes, while her husband sat 
in his armchair with his head bandaged and his lips and 
nose swollen. The coachman lay on the floor with a pillow 
under his head. The doctor sat with his hands on his 
knees watching his patients, and the servants were coming 
and going, the men discussing the occurrence. 

The detective was supposed to be a friend of Lord 
Montgomery; he induced Harrison and the coachman to 
repeat all that had happened to them. Harrison told 
how he had tried to open the gate, and how it had suddenly 
given way and they had both fallen to the ground, and 
had been clubbed by some one — -being vstunned by the fall, 
they didn’t know whom; they had lost consciousness 
and remembered nothing more until they found themselves 
in the lodge and Mrs. Harrison standing over them. 
She had sent their boy to the housekeeper for help and a 
doctor, and that was how the doctor and the servants were 
there. He knew nothing more. 

Of course our readers already knew all that Harrison 
had related, as far as he was concerned — ^how they had 
thought themselves to be on the track of the abductors — 
and he still believed that it was they who had clubbed 
him and the coachman, and Mr. Walgrave agreed with 
him, but said nothing more; and Lord Montgomery hav- 
ing heard all that could be learned was in a hurry to go; 
so he arose, telling the doctor to look after the welfare of 
the two men. 

^Thank you, my lord,” said Harrison. ’ll be all 
right by to-morrow, though I have a thundering headache 
to-night, and my face will be a sight for a week; and I 
believe that John will soon mend; what do you say, John?” 

don’t know ; I don’t feel right in my head ; it ’s full 
of noises; and I feel the bone behind my ear so sore, as 
if it was smashed with the blow that tall fellow gave me 
as I was getting up after my fall.” 

^^Well, the doctor will see to you both; good night,” 
said Lord Montgomery, as he walked out, followed by 
Walgrave, who said, as soon as they were out of earshot: 

^Ht is as I told you, my lord. You had better return 
home and tell Lady Montgomery that we are on their track 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


87 


and are almost sure to bring the young lady back before 
daylight;, for it will be easy to follow their carriage; it 
cannot pass unnoticed through a village^ as a cab would. 
I am going to send men to every road hereabouts leading 
to any station or town. I have telegraphed to London for 
three good detectives besides those we have here. I will 
depend on you^, my lord^ for horses.^^ 

^^Certainly, Mr. Walgrave; command my servants and 
my horses; they are at your service; and if I can help 
you myself, command me too.^^ 

^^You cannot help me now, my lord, so you had better, 
go and take a rest. I ^11 be at your place early to-morrow 
morning. Good night.^^ 

And they parted; Lord Montgomery to return home, 
and the detective to look after his men. 


4 


88 


MISS HOGG 


CHAPTER XIII. 

The alarm had been quickly given after Katy had en- 
ticed the child away 

As soon as the governess emerged from the wood 
into the clearing she looked about for her charge aud 
came face to face with Harrison, who said: ^^Why, Miss 
Wilson, how came you here? I thought I had seen you 
and Lady Florence on the other side of the park going into 
the back lane all of a hurry about half an hour ago, and 
now you ^re here alone looking for your young lady.^^ 

am looking for her,^^ replied Miss Wilson. left 
her here a short time ago to look after a wounded deer, and 
I have just come back and have not found the deer; and 
if you met Lady Florence at the other side of the park she 
was not with me. Perhaps she was with some lady 
visitors.^’ 

^Tt may be ; still, that is strange. Who told you about 
the wounded deer?^^ 

‘^‘^Why, that loafer, Jerry the poacher.^^ 

^‘^And why did nT he show you where it was 
‘Tie was going to do so when he saw a dark gentleman 
coming towards us whom he mistook for my lord, and 
ran away. The dark gentleman helped me to look for the 
deer, but we didnT find it, and he left me to go to the 
house, as he was a friend of my lord^s, and I came back 
here where I had left Lady Florence; so you see that it 
could not have been I that you saw with her.^^ 

^^FTo, but this is all very strange ; you had better hurry 
to the house and inquire if she has come back; it is 
getting dark; she would never be out at this late hour. 
I will go with you. Hark ! I hear carriage wheels in the 
lane back of us; no carriages ever go in that lane; there 
mmst be something wrong. 0, if I had a horse ! But I 
have nT. I shall have to go to the stables.^^ 

He ran ahead of the governess, who ran also, mad with 
fear for her chargers safety. 

As Harrison neared the house he saw Lady MonL 


THE AHERICAls^ HEIRESS 


80 


gomery alighting from her carriage, alone; no child with 
her. The coachman was about to return to the stables 
when Harrison called to him to stop, and asked him if 
Lady Florence was in the house. 

‘^How should I know?’^ asked the coachman, laughing, 
^^do you take me for her governess?^' 

^^N’o, Mr. Harrison, she is not in the house,^^ said a 
maid from the doorsteps; ^^she is out with her governess; 
she ought to be in; my lady will be displeased that she 
is kept out so late.^’ 

^‘Tell your lady that she is not with her governess and 
that I am afraid she has been enticed away.^’ 

He jumped into the carriage, and called ^‘^Drive on, 
John, for your life.^^ 

The governess reached the house at that moment, 
hatless, hair flying, and wringing her hands in despair, 
for it was no joke to have lost the young Lady Florence 
De La Eochefoucauld. 

Harrison called to her as he passed her, ^^The young 
lady has not returned.^^ 

We already know what happened to him and the coach- 
man. That was how Harrison came to be in Lady Mont- 
gomery’s carriage — to save time, and to be better able 
to bring back Lady Florence should they succeed in over- 
taking her abductors. 

The governess and the maid rushed at the same time 
into Lady Montgomery’s boudoir, and it was some time 
before they could make themselves understood, and to tell 
what had happened, so far as they knew. Lady Mont- 
gomery was stunned, and sending the maid in search of 
Lord Montgomery, she made the governess repeat all 
that had happened, and what Harrison had told 
about having seen Lady Florence in the company of a 
lady, and seemingly going with her of her own free will. 
It was incomprehensible. Her ladyship, a prey to great 
anxiety, went down and gave orders for some of the men 
servants to search the woods and lanes, and that Lord 
ilontgomery be sent to her as soon as he returned. 

But nearly an hour passed before he came in, very 
much excited, having learned from the servants that his 
cousin had disappeared. His mother said there was no 


90 


Miss HOGG 


time to explain matters; that he must immediately see 
that the police were apprised of it. 

^^They have already been, I am told/^ he answered; 

oe went there himself. They are watching every station. 
I am going to see if they have been caught.^^ 

He hurried away, saying, ^^DonT fret, dear mother, 
they canT have gone far; we will soon have our darling 
back again.^^ 

We have seen how he met the cab with Harrison and 
the coachman wounded, on his way to the station. 

Lady Montgomery was trying to compose herself and to 
appear calm among her servants. She retired to her 
boudoir, leaving orders that she be notified if any message 
came about Lady Florence. 

Shortly after Lord Montgomery’s departure the house- 
keeper had knocked, then entered, flushed and excited. 

^^0, my lady, something more has happened.” 

^^What is it, speak. Is it your master ?” 

^^IN’o, my lady; it’s Harrison and the coachman; they 
have both been murdered and brought back to the lodge 
dead.” 

^^Who brought the news?” 

^^Harrison’s boy; and he asked that we should send 
some one to help his mother, and also a doctor.” 

^^Well, send at once, and let some one ride for a doctor. 
What can have happened? How dreadful! But it may 
not be so bad. The child is so young ; he may have seen 
blood on his father and thought him dead.” 

ISTow that we have explained matters up to the point 
where the detective was going to send his men on the 
search, let us follow him and see how he succeeded. He 
returned to the station, where he found Stephen at his 
post. He gave a low whistle, and Stephen appeared and 
followed him behind the station. 

^^Well,” said Walgrave, ^Svhat news?” 

^^Nothing,” replied Stephen, ^‘^only that the three de- 
tectives have arrived and they are at headquarters await- 
ing your orders.” 

^^All right, Stephen, keep a sharp lookout here. We 
have a clew. Harrison and the coachman have been nearly 
murdered by the parties who took the child, and they hnve 
also run away with Lady Montgomery’s carriage; but 


THE A]MEniCA>r HEIRESS 


91 


they won’t be able to go far without detection. Now I hn 
off to headquarters ; you stay here and follow any suspicious 
looking person.” 

He hurried away to see the newly arrived detectives 
and set each one his task. He found four fine horses 
waiting there which Lord Montgomery had sent for their 
use. He sent out two of the men, each in a different 
direction, and ordered them to meet him at six in the 
morning at Lord Montgomery’s. He went away himself, 
well mounted on one of the horses sent by Lord Mont- 
gomery, accompanied by the other detective, equally well 
mounted. They took the road to where Harrison and the 
coachman had been clubbed. 

The night was far advanced and very dark, though 
there was a moon; but the clouds were so thick and dark 
that it only peeped out at short intervals to leave them 
again in darkness. It was easy to see that a storm was 
coining on, and before they had arrived at the gate spoken 
of by Harrison it was raining hard. 

""‘Well, this is pleasant,” said Walgrave, who was dressed 
in a light suit. feel like a drowned rat. Here we are 
at the gate ; hold my horse and I will go in and investi- 
gate;” and taking a dark lantern from his breast pocket, 
lie opened the gate, and saw at once that a carriage had 
been there, and must have been there for quite a while, 
for the grass was much trodden where the horses had stood. 
He also saw, by following the track that the wheels had 
made in the soft ground, that the carriage had gone out 
again ; and just inside the gate there were marks of many 
feet as if a struggle had taken place there. But no other 
clews could be found ; there was nothing in the field more 
than they already knew; and on the road they could see 
no tracks, as it had been made new quite recently, and, 
like many country roads, of stones. 

wonder which way they went,” said Walgrave, 
^hip or down.” 

^^0, I should say up,” replied the other detective. 
•‘They would never have gone toward the place where they 
stole the child; they must have gone toward town.” 

‘‘All right,” said Walgrave, “but it is my idea that 
they may just as well have gone the other way;’^ and, 
piounting, they galloped away, stopping at every village 


92 


MISS HOGG 


they came to^ inquiring for the missing carriage at every 
ta^ern. and whether anyone had been there during the 
evening. ^^ISTo/"’ was the answer given, not in the be.^t 
of humor, for they did not relish being awakened from 
their first sleep to give such profitless information. 

^^Well,^^ said Walgrave, ‘‘1 hn afraid that we he on the 
wrong track ; ^Ye have already passed three villages and no 
one has seen them.^^ 

^‘^We canh exactly take it that way,^^ said his com- 
panion. ^^Wehe only in the middle of the night; and 
though the public house keepers have neither seen nor 
heard of the carriage, some one else may; but people are 
in bed, and we can’t wake everybody up. Hark ! Here 
comes a fellow who don’t happen to be asleep.” 

A voice was heard singing, ^We won’t go home till 
morning ; we won’t go home till morning.’ 0, what ’s 
making the road so unsteady? How it does shake! I 
can’t walk ; I feel as if I was going to fall on my nose every 
minute ; it must be an earthquake that ’s coming this way. 
I ’m half drowned with the rain ; I can’t even see the 
moon” — as he tried to look up and very nearly toppled 
over on his back; ^^at least the wind must have changed; 
it ’s at my back now.” 

^AVe won’t get anything out of a fellow so far gone 
as he is,” said Walgrave. 

‘AYe can only try,” replied the other. ^^Here, John,” 
he cried; '‘^do you want to earn a bob?” 

^^Sure I do,” replied the drunken man. ^^How came 
you to know my name, and what are you up to, and why 
are you spinning around like two devils? Is it a cyclone 
or an earthquake coming on us that makes everybody 
go round like a carrousel, eh, old fellows ?” 

^‘ISrever mind the turning round, my man; you ’ll likely 
be worse by and by, for I should n’t wonder if you stood 
on your head presently.” 

‘^^You don’t say so! Is it going to be so bad as that? 
Then we ’d better all go in somewhere and have a glass ; 
come along, and we won’t go home till morning.” 

He was walking away when Walgrave said, ^^Stop 
a minute and tell us where you got that strong stuff you 
have in you.” 

^^0, just a little way up,” said the man, backing himself 


THE AMEIUCAN HEIRESS 


03 


against the wall of a small cottage to steady himself ; 
^'just on your right, before you enter the town ; it ^s a jolly 
place/^ 

^^0, indeed/^ said Walgrave, ^^and have you met a 
carriage on your way from there 

^^Not a shadow of one, but one came to the public while 
I was there/^ 

^^And who was in it?^^ 

young fellow and his wife or sweetheart, maybe; 
they were a jolly pair; that^s all I know/^ 

^^Did they have a child with them about eight years 

oldr 

^‘AVhy, how you do rush ahead, you fellows ! Did n’t 
I say they were young people ? The man was about twenty- 
five and the young woman eighteen or twenty. Now I’m 
feeling a little more steady ; I think I ’ll go home or 
there ’ll be the devil to pay with my wife.” 

^^Here’s your shilling, John,” said Walgrave. 

^^Ah, you keep it; since you know my name you must 
know that I ’m Squire John Morgan. I only said what 
I did for fun. Good by. I suppose you have been making 
fun of me because you thought I had a drop, he}^ my 
trumps? We’re all jolly good fellows, and we won’t go 
home till morning.” And he went on his way singing. 

^^Well, what do you think of the information he gave 
us? They can’t be those v/e’re looking for.” 

^^No,” replied AA'algrave, ^^decidedly not; they 
would n't stay there to be caught, nor would they be so 
jolly; still we must see them. They may have met a 
carriage on their way; that would give us some idea of 
which way they have gone.” 

^Tt ’s worth trying ;” replied the London detective. 

As they had not remained at a standstill they saw a 
light on their right hand, and above it hung a large sign 
creaking and moaning as it moved backward and forward 
in the storm. ^^That must be the place,” said Walgrave. 
^^The Red Lion Hotel” he read on the sign, just above a 
lion’s head which was painted as red as blood. 

^Must think of a lion of that color! What ideas some 
people have, to be sure !” and he knocked on the door with 
the handle of his whip. 

^oon a head was thrust out of a window above the 


94 


MISS HOGG 


sign^ and a voice called out, ^^Wlio be you at tliis time of 
night — or morning — I be thinking?’^ 

^‘We are two travelers who have lost our way in the 
storm/^ was the answer. ^^Can w^e be accommodated here 
till morning 

‘^Yes, sure, your nonors ; I dl be down before you 
can count five.'^ And soon after the owner of the head 
opened the door, and the two detectives followed him into 
the parlor behind the bar, where a fire was burning 
brightly. 

^^Shall I show you to a bedroom, or do you wish for 
some’at before you turn in?^^ asked the host. 

^^We shall not require a bedroom,’^ replied Walgrave; 
^fit ^s almost morning ; but we ^11 have something to eat — 
cold meat, or bread and cheese, anything you have handy; 
and a glass of hot brandy and water. But first see to our 
horses ; they can’t be left out of doors, you know.” 

^^Sure, sir.” And the old man hobbled away. 

^^Do you intend to stay here till morning ?” said the 
London detective to Walgrave. 

think we had better,” he replied; ^fit is past three 
o’clock, and I wish to see that young couple, if possible; 
and we ’re so wet that we ’ll catch our death if we don’t 
dry our clothes, and have something hot to drive the 
cold out. And the fact is I don’t know which way to turn ; 
we have no clew. I hope the other two detectives are mak- 
ing better progress than we are, though I would have 
preferred to make the capture myself, for honor’s sake. 
But it is of no use whatever for us to be running ahead 
without the slightest clew to guide us. If these young 
people have met a carriage, and can give us an idea of the 
way it went, or about where they saw it, we shall have 
a clew to follow, and will not be working in the dark, as 
we are now doing.” 

You ’re right; and since we have lost the clew we 
had better make ourselves comfortable. Here comes our 
supper.” 

Placing their coats on chairs before the fire, they dis- 
missed their host, and, going to the table, engaged the 
cold leg of mutton and red pickled cabbage, washed down 
^th a glass of hot toddy, and they felt so comfortable 


THi: AMEUIOAK llElHESS 

sitting by the hot tire that they were soon in the land of 
dreams. 

Still, neither of them dreamed that the guilty parties 
were just above their heads, with only the ceiling parting 
them. I 


96 


Miss HOGd 


CHAPTER XIV. 

George and Katy had heard the detectives’ dialogue, 
and were making their plans to send them on the wrong 
track. 

^Tt will never do for me to show myself,” said George ; 
^‘they are go cute, they ’ll see through my disguise in the 
twinkling of an eye. You must manage them, Katy.” 

T1 never be able,” said Katy ; ^They ’ll put me in 

jail.” 

^TIow can they ? there ’s no proof against us. If I 
were not in disguise I’d enjoy the trick. Just think, 
Katy, of the honor of having the English detectives done 
brown by you,” and he laughed merrily, and Katy joined 
in. 

It was after six o’clock, and the detectives still slept. 
They were awakened by some one coming into the room, 
laughing merrily. They opened their eyes, not exactly 
knowing where they were, and saw a young woman not at 
all bad looking, who said, seemingly in surprise at seeing 
the two men asleep in their chairs, ^^0, I beg pardon, 
I had no notion that the parlor was occupied or used 
as a bedroom and made a motion as if to retire. 

The detectives exchanged looks which meant this must 
be the young woman, and Walgrave hastened to say, ’m 
sorry, madam, if we have startled you. Pray don’t go; 
we ’re off ourselves in less than five minutes.” 

^^0, I have no wish to turn you out, and I ’m sorry I 
woke you. But believing that the room was empty I came 
to fetch a glass of soda water for my husband.” And she 
laughed again, as if unable to repress her merriment. 

^Ts your husband ill, madam?” 

^*^0, dear, no; or I wouldn’t be laughing; but — but — 
well, I don’t think I ought to tell.” 

can assure you, madam, that we will not abuse your 
confidence. What has happened to your husband?” For 
though the young woman vras richly dressed, the detectives 


HIJIRESS 

knew that she was not a lady, or they would not have 
questioned her so. 

^‘^Well, gentlemen, we came back late last night. We 
went to a party, and as we left our friends' house my hus- 
band said that he saw stars. And this morning he won't 
get up; he has a splitting headache; and when he tried 
to rise he told me that everything was going round and 
round, and I laughed till I could n't stand, for I never saw 
him so before; and I come down to get him some soda 
water to set him right again." 

^^Nothing better than soda water, madam. I suppose 
it was a grand party you went to?" 

^^Well, I can't say that; it was a secret party where 
only friends were invited. We had received the invitation 
while we were in town; that is partly the reason we came 
this way; and we certainly have had lots of fun." 

secret party? I don't understand," said Walgrave; 
^^and where was it?" 

^^0, surely you don't expect me to tell you," said Katy, 
laughing, ^^or it would no longer be a secret." 

^^0, it must be raffles," said the London detective, ^^and, 
of course, it has to be done secretly." 

^‘1 never said so," replied Katy, pretending to look em- 
barrassed. 

^^0, it's all right, madam," he said, laughingly; ^Ve 
sometimes do something in that line ourselves, don't we, 
Harry?" and he poked Walgrave in the ribs with his 
finger. 

Walgrave laughed and winked at his friend. ^‘^Yes, 
my friend, and don't always see to find our way home, as 
we did last night, or we would not be here sleeping in our 
chairs." 

^^And do you remember the coachman who lost control 
of his horses? He must have had a swell inside, for the 
carriage was fine. The poor coachman fell off his perch 
and the carriage was soon out of sight. Perhaps they were 
going to your party. Did you perchance meet on your road 
a runaway carriage?" 

^^The one we saw that would answer your description 
had a coachman and was not going very fast. There was 
a lady and a little girl inside ; there may have been a gentle- 
man, too, but we did n't see any." 


98 


MISS HOGa 


came you to have seen the lady and the little 
girl^ and yet not knov.^ if anyone else was in the carriage 
^^Because as they passed us the little girl put her head 
out of the window, and called out something that we 
did n^t catch, and a lady pulled her back, and we heard 
the bang of the window closing/^ 

The detectives exchanged looks. ^^At about what time 
did you see that carriage, madam 

^‘^0, well, I can't exactly say. We left here early, and 
had a good ride ; then we. turned back to go to our friends^ 
house, and it was on our way there that we met it. They 
were going toward the railway station. It was dark, and 
if they had not passed us so close we could not have seen 
the child at the window, nor the lady. I caiTt tell how they 
looked. I know that the horses were not dark, and that the 
coachman had a cape on. I hope that they are your friends 
and that your mind is relie ved.^^ 

really believe that it is the same carriage, and I 
thank you for the information you have given us,^^ replied 
W algrave. 

^^0, you ^re welcome,^^ said Katy, good humoredly. 
^^ISTow I must really be off with my soda water or George 
will think that I have eloped with some one.^^ 

She left the room, laughing merrily, and her laugh 
could be heard after she had entered her room, and a 
coarser voice Joining with her. 

^AVell, we have a clew at last. Let us have a mouthful 
to eat, and be off. I had an appointment for six o^cIock 
at Lord Montgomery’s, and we won’t be there at eight. 
We have a long way to go back, and most likely there will 
be news for us when we get there, for if the occupants of 
the carriage have gone to the station they will have fallen 
into the trap and are now safe under lock and key.” 

After breakfasting they mounted their horses and rode 
back, passing the station on their way. Stephen was there 
but had no news of the occupants of the carriage; but he 
said that word had been sent him by one of the men ser- 
vants that the carriage and horses had been found in a 
marshy field Just half a mile from Lady Montgomery’s 
farm, and that the carriage was totally ruined and the poor 
horses nearly drowned, as the carriage had stuck fast in 
the mud, and that the horses had been unable to draw it 


THE AMEKICAH HEIRESS 


00 


out, or to break the traces, and the more they had kicked 
and pulled the deeper they had sunk, till only their heads 
and the two wheels of the carriage were visible, for it 
had tipped on its side. 

^^Who found the carriage asked Walgrave. 
‘^‘^Detective Mathew, sir.^^ 

^^And have they found no bodies?’^ 

^^They had n^t then, but they may have since/^ 

^^All right, Stephen, keep on watching here, but I 
am afraid that it will be of little* use. They must have been 
strangers in these parts, and instead of turning to their 
right to get out of the lane they must have gone straight 
on and found themselves in the pond before they knew it. 
The night was so dark that anyone might do it who did 
not know that the pond was there.’^ 

^^But horses have instinct,^^ remarked the London 
detective, ^‘^and would never have gone in willingly. They 
must have been urged on pretty sharply by the driver.^^ 
^^You are right there; but be that as it may, I am 
afraid that they are all drowned, and that beautiful child 
with them. Let us go to the house and se§ what is going 
on there.^^ 

When they reached the house they were told that all 
the men were at the pond, that it was being dragged, 
and that, so far as they knew, no bodies had been found, 
and that Lady Montgomery had received such a shock at 
the news that she had fainted away and had been carried 
to her room and put to bed. My lord and the doctor were 
now with her. 

^^Vell, Sarah,^^ said Walgrave, ^^go and tell Lord Mont- 
gomery that I am here and that I should like a word vutli 
him if at all possible.^^ 

Lord Montgomery came down at once, looking pale 
and sorrowful, and exclaimed, as he saw the detectives: 
^^Have you any news — I mean good news? My mother is 
nearly dead with the shock she received this morning, 
that our beautiful Florence was most likely drowned.^^ 

^‘No, my lord, I have not; still, I donT give up hope; 
for as no bodies have been found and the pond is not deep, 
it is possible that the horses really did run away with the 
carriage, and that the young lady has been taken away in 
^.nother one, for no |)erson would try to go far with 


100 


MISS HOGG 


a carriage like 3 ^ours. So cheer up^ and explain matters to 
Lady Montgomery. I must see my men, and then will 
begin the search again. We will find her yet/^ said 
Walgrave, with such a determined air that it gave hopes to 
the captain, who went back to his mother, while the de- 
tectives walked toward the farm and soon reached the 
pond. They saw at a glance that if any of the occupants 
of the carriage had been drowned their bodies would 
have been recovered before that time ; and supposing there 
had been people in the carriage they could not have jumped 
out, in fact, would have been afraid to do so, seeing the 
water all around them, and not knowing how deep it was ; 
so that they would have been found in the carriage. The 
doors had not been opened, for they had been found closed, 
and no one jumping out for life would think of closing 
the door. 

The search was given up in that quarter, and all the 
detectives drew back some distance to consult as to what 
had best be done. Walgrave sent three of his men to in- 
quire in every village for thirty miles around. Then, 
with one of hi& men, he repaired to a telegraph office and 
wired to all the surrounding stations, w'^aiting for the 
answers ; but no suspicious looking persons had been seen ; 
no little girl had left by any train; the only child they 
had seen was a little boy, dirty and ragged, accompanied 
by his father and grandmother, and he was going with 
them willingly, having hold of their hands, and they had 
no appearance of hiding, having sat for more than half 
an hour on one of the benches. One of the detectives on 
the watch had spoken to the child, but he seemed shy 
and half asleep, and had hidden his face in the old woman’s 
shawl and had not answered; so that the old woman had 
said : "^^Poor dearie, he ’s asleep ; we had to wake him up so 
early, as his mother be dying in London and wants to see 
her boy before she dies. I only hope that we shall get 
there in time. We be waitin’ for the train this long while ; 
be it never coming ? And my poor son is dazed about his 
poor wife.” 

The man really did look ill and uneasy. They left by 
the six o’clock train for London that morning. 

When Walgrave received this telegram he danced with 
rage and used very strong language. ""0, the fool, the fool ! 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


101 


It must have been the people who stole the child, and 
the child herself, I dl bet m}^ head. And to let them 
decamp under his very nose ! 0, Smith, if I had you here 
I would shake you out of your very skin ! I must be off by 
the next train as soon as I have telegraphed to London ; but 
that will be too late; it is now two o'clock; they reached 
London hours ago if they went there at all." 

^^t is my opinion that they have gone there," replied 
the other detective. ^^They seem to know their business, 
whoever they are. What can be their motive? Is it 
money ? If so, it would be well to offer a large reward for 
the recovery of the child." 

^^It shall be done," replied Walgrave. ^^You go back to 
Lord Montgomery, take him this telegram, and tell him 
that I am positive that it is the little lady disguised as a 
boy, and that I have gone to ascertain where they came 
from, and will telegraph if I have news. ISTow I 'm off 

to the station; you can telegraph me at , and 

should I find a clew I will leave word for you at the 
station." 

When Walgrave reached the station he had to wait 
twenty minutes, which seemed to him twenty hours. He 
walked about in a perfect fury. So much time lost ! 0, 

if he had not slept so long that morning he might yet have 
caught them by sending a telegram to the London station 
and have them stopped until he could go and investigate 
the matter; but now what could he do Wt walk the plat- 
form like a madman while they were escaping and laugh- 
ing at him. 0, that was more than he could bear ; he would 
be disgraced forever. At last here 's the train. 

It was a relief to him to get aboard and feel himself 
going at a furious rate — for it was the express, one of the 
fastest trains in the world. When he reached his destina- 
tion he saw Smith watching every train; he called to him 
and gave him such a volley of abuse that the poor felloiv 
turned pale and had n't a word to say w^hen Walgrave told 
him that he had allowed the guilty parties to escape right 
under his very nose. They made inquiries, but no one at 
the station could tell which way the tramps had come, 
though the clerk remembered selling the man a two and a 
half ticket for London. He believed they had come on foot. 

The two detectives went through the village asking if 


102 


MISS HOGG 


the tramps and their little boy had been seen, and from 
what road they had entered the village. Manj^, on their 
way to their work, had seen them; it must have been in 
the vicinity of live o’clock ; they had entered the village at 
the west side, on foot, the man carrying the little boy, 
who seemed asleep or tired. That was all the information 
they could get. They hired a light one-horse trap and 
went west in search of a clew. After riding for a good 
pace for about two miles they saw an old one-horse wagon, 
seemingly without a driver; the horse was eating the 
grass along the hedges. 

Walgrave alighted, saying, ^^They came in this wagon, 
that’s clear.” 

^^Beyond a doubt,” answered Smith, ^^but how shall we 
find out where it came from ? If the horse could only talk 
now we would be all right.” 

^^0, we will make him talk if he is at all intelligent.” 

^AVell, Mr. Walgrave, I know that you are very clever; 
still, I don’t see how you are going to manage that.” 

^Tndeed,” replied Walgrave, ^^it won’t be me that will 
make him talk, but you, yourself.” 

Smith looked puzzled and thought that Walgrave must 
have lost his head ; so he made no answer. 

^^ISTow, Smith,” said Walgrave, ‘^^you get down, turn the 
horse’s head to the west, and get into the wagon ; hold the 
reins loosely, and let him show us the way to his home; 
you can drive at a good pace while the road is straight, but 
should there be a turning and more than one road, slacken 
the reins, let him choose his way, and we ’ll get there yet 
or I ’ll eat my head.” 

Smith looked at Walgrave with admiration and said: 
^^0, you beat us all, sir ;” and they started off at as rapid a 
pace as the old horse could be made to go. 

^Ts William to follow us, sir?” 

^^ISTo; I left word at the station that he is to replace 
you there : there will be no train before the one he is in. 
It is as well to keep watch, though I am afraid it is too late. 
If we could only find out who stole the cfiild our way 
would be clear,” 


TllJi: AMEElCAlSr heiress 




CHAPITER XV. 


The old horse kept on liis way for five miles, turning 
sometimes to the right and sometimes to the left; he 
stopped once to drink at an old fashioned fountain on the 
roadside, and then went on, and he certainly looked as 
if he were nearing his home, for he neighed as he passed 
the fields in which were some cows and a horse. A man 
was milking a cow, and as he heard the horse neighing 
he looked up, and hurriedly pushing his milk out of the 
cow's reach he ran toward the gate. The detectives 
stopped, for they thought that he must be the owner of 
the liorse and wagon, but he did not look like a man that 
would be an accessory to kidnappers. They would hear 
what he had to say, however. 

He was out of breath from running, but as soon as 
he could talk he yelled out : ^SSo you have brought back my 
horse and wagon. I think you might have asked for the 
loan of it, and not come in the night and taken it without 
saying ^by your leave^ and the farmer wiped the perspira- 
tion from his forehead with the sleeve of his blue smock 
frock. He had an honest face, but he was terribly angry. 
He went on : ^^Well, my fine fellows, what have you got to 
say for yourselves? If you think it a nice joke to play, I 
don’t, I ’ll let you know.” 

^^My good man,” began Walgrave, ^fif you’ll only let 
us put in a word you ’ll soon know how we came by your 
horse and wagon, and we are glad that we have found 
you. This’ old horse of yours brought us here; we had 
no idea where he came from; he is a smart old fellow.” 
And they told him how they had found the horse and 
wagon, and that they were detectives searching for some one 
who had stolen a child, and must have used his property 
to do it with; that was as clear as day. But though they 
questioned the farmer nothing more could be got out of 
him except that he had missed his horse and wagon early 
that morning, but at what time it had been taken he could 


104 


mss HOGG 


not tell; he was very glad to get it back. He invited the 
two detectives into his house and gave them some cider 
and buckwheat cakes, and also cared for their horse. 
Then they left to continue their search, sleeping that night 
at a tavern and searching all the next day, but not the 
shadow of a clew could they find. And after another day 
wasted in the same way they went to Lord Montgomery to 
report that they had been fooled, and were at a loss where 
to make further search for the child ; but they believed she 
had been taken to London — the worst place to find anyone, 
there were so many hiding places there — and as they had 
no idea what kind of people had her they were at a loss 
to know in what sphere of life to look for them. If they 
were strollers or circus people there would be no trouble; 
but should it be an enemy who had done the deed, where 
were they to look for that enemy unless Lady and Lord 
Montgomery gave them the clew ? 

After consultation with detectives, Walgrave arrived at 
the conclusion that it was the work of an enemy, and a 
clever one, who must have means to pay high prices to those 
employed in the work, and the tramps were no ordinary 
people. After reaching this conclusion he called on Lord 
Montgomery and asked him to put them on the track of 
this enemy if he wished to find his cousin; otherwise they 
were at a standstill and only wasting time, working in the 
dark as they had been doing during the past week. Lord 
Montgomery consulted his mother and she agreed with 
Walgrave; she thought that he was right, and must be a 
clever man to have discovered as much ; and that though it 
was most unpleasant to have to expose Miss Hogg’s con- 
duct, it would have to be done; that she would tell Wal- 
grave herself ; it would come with a better grace from her 
than from her son. 

So Walgrave was sent for and received in my lady’s 
boudoir. She told him everything, from beginning to 
end; he was asked to keep the matter secret and he had 
promised to do so. He had left Lady Montgomery’s 
boudoir without a smile on his face, saying to himself, 
^^ 0 , Miss Hogg, I shall soon have 3^011 under my thumb, 
m3^ fine American, you want to force a lord to marry you ! 
Why, it ’s a detective ou ought to marry ; you ’d be a great 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


105 


help to him^ for yon ^re clever, I must admit, but I 'll be a 
match for you now that I know my way/^ And he rubbed 
his hands in anticipation of the delight he would feel 
when he faced her with the proof of her deed. 

So he went to I^ondon in search of Miss Hogg after a 
week wasted in the country searching for tramps. ^^0, 
why did n^t they tell me this before 


106 


MISS HOGG 


CHAPTEE XVI. 

Leaving Walgrave on his new tack, we will return to 
Miss Hogg in the lane where she had backed the carriage 
so as not to be seen by the horseman, who was no other 
than Lord Montgomery on his way to the station, as we 
have previously recorded. 

As soon as the horseman could no longer be heard she 
mounted the box, and, crossing the high road, she struck 
another lane which she thought would take her to the 
field where she had left Jerry the poacher; but she soon saw 
her mistake, and realized that she had lost her way and 
that she was going toward Lady Montgomery's mansion; 
and to add to her trouble she heard a carriage coming 
towards her. What could she do? She could not back 
out of the lane; she must stay there and be caught like 
a rat in a trap. Xo, she would make one more effort; so 
she got down, and opening the carriage door she shook 
Katy, who awoke with a start. 

^^What is it, Mamie 

^‘^Come, jump out and take the child; don^t ask ques- 
tions, but make haste and she half dragged her out 
of the carriage, and taking the sleeping child she managed 
to get over the hedge, where Katy soon followed her and 
sat down. Mamie handed her the child, saying^ ^J^eep 
still; a carriage is coming, and I must find out who is 
in it, if possible.^^ 

She peeped over the hedge anxiously and tried to pierce 
the darkness, but could only make out something dark 
coming along at a slow pace as if afraid of being heard. 
It could not be their pursuers for they would n’t hide. 
Who could it be? 0, if it could only be Jerry what a bless- 
ing it would be! He could yet save them. It was too 
good to be true, but she would soon know nov/, and she 
watched and waited anxiously, for she was in a very un- 
pleasant predicament. If it was not Jerry she ^vould have 
to abandon the child, and she and Katy would make their 
way back as best they could to the tavern, inventing some 
story for returning on foot instead of in the cab. 


THE AMiJPJCAIs" HEtRi2SS 


10 ? 

All these things passed through her mind in less than 
a minute ; but she listened, for the carriage had stopped. 

‘‘Plelio said a man's voice in a whisper, ^Vhat stops 
you?^^ He had jumped down to ascertain why his horses 
had stopped and could n’t be made to go a step further. 

^^Why, it ’s the runaway carriage, by Jingo ! It did 
rim away, after all. My gent had nothing to do with it, 
but where did he vanish to?” 

Miss Hogg, or George, as we shall continue to call 
her, was greatly relieved when she found that it was Jerry 
the poacher, and a plan entered her head at once. She 
]uust use him; he was the man to do anything for money, 
and, situated as she was, she could not get on without help ; 
so she went out into the road and said, ‘^‘^0, there you are 
at last; I have been hunting for you till I have lost my 
way. Why did n’t you stay in the field and wait for me, 
eh, fellow?” 

^^Well, sir, I ’m powerful glad to meet you ! I thought 
you had run away; and as the two men were hurt and 
their carriage gone, I could not leave them there to die; 
so I put them in my cab and I ’ve just left them at the 
lodge and was going back through these here lanes to the 
field to see if you had turned up ; and now I find you here 
and the carriage too, ha, ha ! But I ain’t no fool and 
you ’d better trust Jerry, and if 3^011 ’ve a little job on hand 
that will pay he ’s the man to do it.” 

^^Well, I believe you’re right; let us waste no time. 
Get rid of this carriage in. some way, and manage it so 
that it won’t get back home for some hours yet ; and then 
take us to some hut, or to your house, if you have one. 
where I can leave my little girl for a few hours; my wife 
is here with her.” 

^^Yes, sir; I can take you to my mother’s; it’s a poor 
place, but you ’re welcome to leave the child with her.” 

^^Well, hurry and get rid of that carriage.” 

Jerry backed the horses as far as the turn in the lane, 
and heading them towards the pond, he gave them a cut 
with his whip. They, not being used to such cruel treat- 
ment, had rushed into the pond and stuck where they 
were found by detective Mathew, as we have seen. He 
then returned to George, who had during his short absence 


MISS itoQa 


108 

got Katy and the child into the cab, so that Jerry did 
not see who the child really was. 

^‘^ISTow make haste, Jerry, to your mother's, and you 11 
be well paid.^^ 

They soon reached the place, a small cottage about a 
mile from the village. It stood alone, a short distance 
from the road, more properly called the lane. Few except 
farmers who had fields beyond passed that way. A high 
hedge inclosed the little garden. The gate was made of old 
pieces of wood tied together with willow, and fastened 
with a large wooden button. 

It being well known tha1: widow Jerry^s son was a 
poacher, no one cared to visit there. He and his mother 
might lie dead in the cottage for a month, and no one be 
the wiser; so that Miss Hogg could not have secured a 
better place to enable her to carry out her plans. She and 
Katy had not been idle during their ride to the widow 
Jerry ^s, as the appearance of Lady Florence showed. 

When Jerry arrived at his own gate he gave a 
whistle which was well understood by his mother, who 
came running to the gate, and was very much surprised to 
see a cab there and her son helping out a gentleman, a 
lady, and a large bundle. ^^Now open the gate, mother, 
and be quick about it, and mind you be as dumb as a 
mule.^^ 

Jerry tied his horses to the gate pillar and followed 
the company into the house. The widow had bolted the 
door as soon as all were in, and closed the shutters tightly ; 
she then looked at the people her son had brought in. 
She was surprised, for she had expected to see some poacher 
like her son running away from the gamekeepers; instead 
of that, however, she saw a tall, dark gentleman, a stout, 
fair little woman with a laughing face, and a little girl 
with short hair the color of gold. The latter personage 
had been brought in as a bundle. 

^^Kow, Jerry,^^ said the gentleman, ^^can your mother 
be trusted with a secret?’^ 

^^Yes, sir, my mother is a wonderful woman, and a 
clever one besides.'’^ 

^^Very well; now I wish you to obey me without ques- 
tioning or prying into my affairs; can you both do that? 
You shall be well paid.^^ 


THE AMllRtCAiT ttEIRESS 


109 


i promise for my mother and myself too/'^ 
^^Well, try to understand what I am going to say to you, 
for time presses. I Wcint this child disguised as a boy; 
if possible, ragged, dirty — in fact, so that she could not 
be recognized even if her nurse met her.^^ 

can easily do that/^ said the widow; ^‘1 still have 
some of the clothes Jerry wore when he was a boy, and we 
can dirty them in no time.^^ 

^^That will do,^^ said George. ^^hTow can you manage 
to go to London by the first train, by six o^ clock to-morrow 
morning? Not this station, but one far away from here 
— secretly. I warn 3 ^ou that there will be detectives every- 
where. You must not leave any clew behind you. Here 
is an address where you can go when you reach London — 
No. 15 Burr Street; it is a retired street, just back of 
St. Catherine’s Docks; and should you be followed there, 
try to escape, and go to No. 10 Lemon Street, Whitechapel, 
and from there wherever you can; I leave it to you; but 
don’t be taken. Here is one hundred pounds for your ex- 
penses. I will join you at either place; and if you should 
have to move come every night at eleven o’clock to the 
corner of Lemon Street and Whitechapel and I will meet 
you there. Be as ragged as you possibly can, but when you 
reach London look a little more respectable or they would 
not take you in. Don’t hide when you’re at the station, 
but go openly; you are the little boy’s father and you 
have come to fetch him to see his mother, who is dying in 
London. You are, of course, in great sorrow, which will 
seem natural, and it will help to hide your fears. Your 
mother must do the talking, if possible, but do not, either 
of you, talk too much.” 

understand,” said Jerry. ^^But if the child should 
begin to talk we are lost.” 

^^The child won’t talk, she is stupefied "with drugs and 
she won’t feel right for a few days. Do you think you 
can manage that for me? If everything turns out right 
I will give you employment as well as a large sum of 
money.” 

^^That we will,” they both replied, ^^and enjoy the fun 
of fooling the detectives. I ’m as cunning as the very 
devil; I ’ve been so used to hiding and I never have been 
taken yet. I don’t steal, but I poach.” 


110 


MISS HOGG 


CHAPTER XVII. 

DuriisTG this dialogue the old woman and Katy had 
been dressing the child and smearing her face. They put 
on her boy’s cap with flaps^ tied under the chin. Xo one 
would have recognized the daintily dressed Lady Florence. 
She had a far-away look in her eyes which might have 
passed for drowsiness. ^bShe ’ll do/’ said George. 

The old woman had also dressed herself in a very 
decent black dress^ with an old dirty, ragged one over it; 
an old shawl and not over-clean sunbonnet completed her 
costume. Then, making a bundle of a few little things, she 
declared herself ready. Jerry had also disguised him- 
self. 

^^Xow, sir,” he said, addressing George, ^hny plans are 
made, and you won’t be disappointed in us. You and your 
lady stay here, and my mother and I are going to take 
the child to a station ten miles away from here. I will 
leave her half way with my mother, come back here and 
take you both to your tavern, so that you can’t be sus- 
pected ; then I will go back to my mother somehow, even 
if I have to walk it. I can do it in time. Then I ’ll 
borrow, without leave, some kind of w^agon, and go by 
the lanes till I get near the village ; then we will leave the 
horse and wagon to return home the best way they can. 
I ’ll carry the child and my mother the parcel, and no one 
will suspect us.” 

^^That’s right, Jerry; why, you’re a trump, and just 
the man for me,” said George, overjoyed to have found 
such people to help him, for he was lost without them. 

^^Xow let ’s be off. Have you put some food in the 
parcel, mother?” 

^‘^Yes, my son, plenty.” 

^^Well, come along;” and he took the child in his arms 
and carried her to the cab- 

The old woman whispered to Katy, ^^You had better 
blow the light out, and if you hear a noise don’t open; 


THE AMEiaCAN HEIRESS 111 

doiiH make a noise ; they ‘11 think ^ye ’re all out and she 
followed her son. 

George and Katy were alone for nearly two hours. 
They bolted the door, blew out the light, settled 
themselves, each in an old armchair, and were soon asleep, 
for they were both very tired ; the anxiety and fatigue they 
had undergone had been terrible — Miss Hogg in particular. 
How long they had slept they could n’t tell when they 
were awakened by men’s voices. 

^^IVho lives in this hut?” 

^^Only Jerry and his mother, but they don’t seem to be 
in; everything is dark; I have knocked twice; I suppose 
Jerr}" is out poaching, and his mother may be gone to 
town to sell the product of his work, for they are night 
birds and are not seen in the daytime.” 

^^Well, give another rap and don’t waste time;” and 
two or three kicks were heard against the door. 

Katy got closer to Miss Hogg and whispered, ^^They ’ll 
knock the door down.” Miss Hogg shook her to keep her 
quiet. 

^Tf you want to search the house I ’ll bust the door in,” 
said the man who had kicked so violently. 

The two women listened in fear and trembling for the 
answer, for should they break in there was no escape for 
them. Katy whispered that she felt as if she was going 
to scream. 

^^You ’d better not,” whispered back Miss Hogg, ^^or I ’ll 
choke you.” 

The men outside seemed to be deliberating. hardly 
think it would be any use,” replied the other. ^^Whoever 
took the child is far away by this time; they would never 
have come to this hut, so we had better go back.” And 
to the great relief of the women inside, they heard their 
footsteps die away and they began to breathe again. But 
they were not yet safe. Should these two men — Mathew 
the detective and John the footman — happen to meet 
Jerry how would they, the women, find their way to the 
tavern on foot ? and it was beginning to rain torrents. If 
revenge is sweet they had yet to find it out, for so far it 
had been very bitter, and hard work. But it was too late 
to draw back, and Miss Hogg, though she said very little, 
wished herself well out of it. 


112 


MISS HOGG 


They tried to settle themselves in their chairs again, 
but they found it impossible to sleep ; and the time seemed 
so long sitting there in the dark waiting for Jerry. Would 
he never come? Had he been arrested on his way there? 
If so, the child was rescued, and soon the police would 
come and make them prisoners — or was it in coming back ? 
They might yet escape, but their plan would have miscar- 
ried. What could the old woman do ? She must, of course, 
wait for her son wherever he had left her, and she would 
be caught too. All these unpleasant thoughts nassed 
through their minds. 

But hark ! What ^s that ? Carriage wheels at last ! 
But is it J erry ? They must make sure before opening the 
door. Yes, it is he; they hear his whistle. 0, what a re- 
lief ! what a weight off their minds ! 

They opened the door and Jerry came in, put on his 
green coat and whispered, ^^Come, everything is all right.^^ 
They followed him, and, locking the door, he remounted 
the box, and they hurried away toward the tavern. The 
storm was at its height. 

At about this same time Walgrave was examining the 
fields where Harrison and the coachman said they had been 
clubbed, but the poacher reached the tavern long before 
Walgrave for he knew all the short cuts. After leaving 
George and his wife at the tavern, he drove to the stable 
where the cab had been hired and hurried to his mother, 
whom he had left in an old stable or cow-shed not far 
from where he had ^^borrowed^^ the wagon. Then, after 
eating something and feeding the child, who seemed to be 
recovering, they told her that they were going to take her 
back home, but that she must not answer anyone who 
might speak to her, for bad people who had run away with 
her would take her away again; and, as she knew Jerry 
the poacher, she believed what they told her. So she 
allowed Jerry to lift her into the wagon; the old woman 
cuddled her up very kindly and she slept again ; she seemed 
unable to keep her eyes open, and she was really asleep 
when they left the wagon and Jerry carried h^ to tho 
/station; as wq have previously recordied, 


THE iUEEIUCAN HEIRESS 


113 


CHAPTER XVIII. 

When Katy entered the room with the soda water^ 
laughing merrily, she said, ^Hlere, my dear husband, drink 
this, it will do you good. I saw two gentlemen downstairs 
who recommended soda water as a sure cure; they speak 
from experience,^^ and she presented the glass to George. 

He playfully took it and emptied it in the wash basin, 
saying, ‘^‘^The sight of it has cured me, so I have no need 
to drink it.^^ He began to dress, Katy helping him like 
a dutiful wife, and they were soon ready to go downstairs, 
but they wanted the detectives to leave first ; and they soon 
had the pleasure of seeing them mount their horses and 
depart. 

^^Xow,'^ said George, ^fiet^s have breakfast and 
decamp, for it^s hard to tell what is going to happen if 
they should catch Jerry. They would soon come back 
here; and then it would not be soda water they would 
recommend to cure me. They would soon make a widow 
of you;^^ and they went down arm in arm. Joking. 

The tavern keeper thought he had never seen such a 
happy couple, and that his soda water must have great 
merit, for certainly the gentleman looked all right; and he 
felt sorry when he was told that they intended to leave 
after breakfast, and said so. 

^^Well,^^ said Katy, ^Ve are on our wedding tour, you 
know, and we want to see as many places as we can 
during my husband^s two weeks leave.^^ 

^^To be sure, to be sure,^^ replied the old man, ^‘‘and a 
merry couple you be; it makes my old heart young again, 
for I was a Jolly chap once, though it be many years back 
now.^^ 

At about noon, George, carrying his portmanteau, 
left the tavern with Katy. Pie dare not make her carry 
it. Katy was greatly amused at the face he was making 
over it, but it was not very far to the station, and they 
left for London without having been suspected. They saw 
a fellow who looked like a detective, and Katy went up 
to him and asked him the time, while George went for 


114 


MISS HOGG 


the ticket, and she was flirting desperately with him when 
George came on the platform; he frowned darkly at her 
and she winked at the detective and hurried to her hus- 
band as sedate as a nun. The detective turned away 
murmuring, ^^Well, really, we see all kinds; that^s never 
his wife, I T1 bet my head/^ George and Katy had to pass 
him again to reach the train, but George never deigned 
to give him a look; in fact, he turned hia head proudly 
away. But Katy, on the contrary, smiled at him and made 
a face toward her husband, which the detective seemed to 
enjoy, and he smiled at her in return. 

At last the train started, to the great relief of them 
both. Certainly Katy had played her cards very well 
by attracting the detective’s attention to herself, for she 
was not disguised ; there was nothing very remarkable 
about her — a little overdressed, perhaps, for a person of her 
st 3 de, but that was nothing unusual; such young women 
are seen every day in all countries. 

Had the detective not been such a gay spark, so fond 
of pretty girls, and had he been attending to his business, 
he could not have failed to see through George’s disguise, 
though he was well made-up. Still, a detective has sharp 
eyes when he chooses to use them; but he was taken off 
his guard; he had been looking for some one who would 
try to sneak away, not come openly and actually make 
sheep’s eyes at him, as Katy had been doing. He stood on 
the platform looking complacently at the train that was 
carrying away the people that he had been expected to 
capture. Katy put her head out of the window, and seeing 
him there, actually waved her handkerchief at him. 

^^Come, sit down,” said George, ^^you will overdo it ; 
we’re not out of danger yet; we may be stopped at the 
end of our journey; we don’t know if Jerry has arrived 
safe. I long to be in London, and yet I ’m afraid. If we 
get safe out of this train we can defy the detectives with 
the Jerrys to help us. He knows London as well as his 
pocket. How lucky we were to meet that saucy cabby 
again ! It was he who told me of the place in Burr street 
and Lemon street. I wrote it down for Jefry, for the poor 
fellow writes badly. I don’t know where Burr street is 
myself except that it is west, and not far from the Tower 
of London and the Mint, but the cabman will know.” 




115 

my dear George/^ Katy replied, %ut why do 
you take so much trouble to run away with a cliild? 
it is beyond me. If it was wuth the young lord I could 
understand it, and to me it would be a great deal more 
sensible.^^ 

“Now, you just shut up, Katy, you ^re too fresh,^^ said 
George, angrily. “I do what I like, and you have only 
l;o obey.^^ 

“0, don’t get angry ; you have no idea hov/ I shall miss 
my husband when we get back to your mother and she 
laughed heartily. 

They were alone in a first class carriage — they had been 
so far, at least. “Look here,^^ said George, “suppose that 
the detective we left behind should have his eyes opened by 
some telegram sent from London or elsewhere, we shall 
be caught, for he will wire back a description of us both. 
If I thought there would be time enough I would make a 
cliange in my appearance.^^ 

“You have if we hurry,^^ said Katy, unstrapping the 
portmanteau and getting out a petticoat, a skirt, a jacket, 
and a soft felt hat with a thick veil. “Now quick; just 
take off your coat and vest; you will have to put on the 
skirt over your trousers, and be quick.^^ 

Katy grabbed the hat and mustaches, while George was 
taking off his coat and vest, which Katy hurriedly shoved 
into the portmanteau. She helped him to dress, tying 
the thick veil over his face. Then she strapped the port- 
manteau and sat down pale and trembling, for the train 
was slowing up and they soon ran into a station. 

“Let ^s get down,^^ said Miss Hogg, as we 'Shall call her 
again; “I have tickets for the second class; we shall be 
safer there in case they are searching for us.^^ 

They got off the car just as an old gentleman and his 
daughter were getting into the carriage that they were 
leaving. They got into a crowded car and no one noticed 
them. The guard called for the tickets, which Miss Hogg 
gave fearlessly. Katy had wrapped herself up in a travel- 
ing cloak which hid much of her finery, and settled her- 
self to sleep in a corner. 

When they arrived at Paddington Station it was getting 
dark, every one hurrying, pushing, and shoving to get 
away; some leaving the station on foot; others in cabs, 


116 


MISS HOGG 


Katy, carrying the portmanteau, signaled to a cabby, who, 
taking the portmanteau, put it into the cab, and would 
have hurried her in, but she said, ^^Wait a moment; what 
up down there ; is it an accident 

^^hTo, iniim,^^ he answered in a whisper; ^ht be two de- 
tectives; they have caught that old gent and young lady 
who is crying/^ 

‘^^Some do say that they ’ve stolen that child that such 
a large reward has been offered for,^^ remarked another 
cabby. 

^Toor old fellow, he don^t look like a thief, said 
Miss Hogg. ^^But let ^s go.^^ 

They got in the cab, and once more they had escaped 
the detectives. 

Had Miss Hogg remained in her disguise she and Katy 
would have fallen into the detectives^ hands. 

It was through Mathew that this arrest had been made. 
While Walgrave had gone to find out about the tramps 
and had found the old wagon we have already seen, 
Mathew had not been idle ; he had visited all the surround- 
ing taverns and livery stables, and was so far rewarded as 
to find the cabman who had brought George and Katy to 
the park. He related how they had got out and ordered 
him to wait in the lane for them, and he had done so, but 
that they had been away so long that he had gone to 
sleep and had only awakened when they had ordered him 
to drive on. They had boarded the carriage unnerceived 
by him. 

^^Did they have a child with them?^^ 

^^Ko; leastways I never saw nor heard any. They made 
one stop in a lane near the high road leading to the railway 
station, and they kept me there so long that I got tired 
of waiting and got off my box to tell them -so, when I 
found the door of my cab open and the cab empty; how 
long it had been so I canT tell; and the lap rug gone; 
yes, gone ! That ’s all I know. They had paid for the cab 
in advance, still, I lose the rug. My belief is that they 
got into the other cab.’^ 

^^What other cab?’^ asked Mathew. 

^^Why, the one with two men who pretended to be look- 
ing for another carriage, and, after stopping for two 


THE AlStEKiCAN HEIRESS 11 *? 

liiinutes, turDjed back and drove away the way they had 
come/’ 

^^0,” thought Mathew^ ^“^that must have been Harrison 
and the coachman. And to think that they were so near 
the guilty parties and yet missed them !” 

^"^How did they loqk — the parties in your cab, I mean ?” 

^^0, I can hardly tell, except that the man was tall 
and dark, and the woman short and fair, with a merry 
eye. They were both young.” 

^^How strange, how strange !” murmured Mathew. 
Walgrave were not so clever I would say that the young 
woman he saw at the Eed Lion was the very same, hj the 
description he gave of her; she had really very good cause 
to laugh, for she was taking in one of the cleverest in our 
force, if it be she.” 

^^Now, cabby, a good horse to your cab ! I want to go 
to the Eed Lion.” 

^^All right, sir ; but as I don’t know von I hope you ’ll 
pay me in advance.” 

^^All right ; here ’s your money,” and Mathew was soon 
on his way. 

They had to pass through the lane where Jerry lived, 
and as they neared the gate they saw something black, or 
at least very dark, on the ground ; it might be a large dog, 
or a deer. The cabman, not wanting to ride over it, what- 
ever it was, got down, and then called out, ^^Why, this is 
my rug! How did it get here?” 

Mathew jumped out of the cab in a moment. ^^Yes, 
that is certainly a rug; they must have passed this way. 
Who lives here?” 

Jerry the poacher.” 

^^0, of course; I was there last night with John, the 
footman. Wait a moment. I must see if anyone is at 
home.” 

So saying, he opened the gate and walked up to the 
cottage, knocked several times to no purpose, tried the 
door, and, to his surprise, it opened; he examined it and 
saw that whoever had locked it must have, in his hurry, 
turned the key before it was quite closed, so that the door 
was really not fastened. He walked in and the first thing 
that met his eyes were a dainty white dress, lace petticoats, 




118 

and a crush hat with pink roses. Yes, the child had been 
there. Taking the clothes, he put them into the cab. 

^^Eun, my man, as fast as you can, to the Eed Lion/^ 
He jumped into the cab, smiling to himself. 

’m oh the right tack ; if I can only get there before 
they leave I T1 give them soda water ! Whatever made 
them stay there and face the detectives ? I wonder if they 
had the child with them; but no; that would be too good. 
It must be that Jerry and his mother who have charge of 
it; they are the tramps, and are employed by the other 
parties whoever they may be.^^ 

^^Go ahead, my man; go ahead.^^ 

The man whipped up his horses and they soon reached 
the Eed Lion. After hearing from the tavern keeper that 
the lady and gentleman had just left for the railway station 
they hurried in that direction. Arriving there, Mathew 
questioned the detective on the platform, and learned that 
two such persons had"* left an hour ago. 

^^And you have allowed them to escape ? They are the 
parties we want. What were you about to allow them 
to slip through your fingers in such a clumsy manner ? for 
they must have looked suspicious in some way.^^ 

The detective knew that he had neglected his duty; 
and to think that that very young woman had taken him 
in, and that the husband^s angry looks were all feigned. 
He rushed to the telegraph office and wired to every station, 
but they had already passed, except the Paddington Station, 
where we saw the detectives arresting the old gentleman 
who had been found with his daughter in the first class 
carriage. True, he was not a young man, as had been 
described to them, but perhaps he wore a disguise; no one 
else answered the description better than they did, so they 
were arrested, taken to the station, and accused of ab- 
ducting a child. 

The old gentleman was very indignant ; he gave his card 
to the captain, who read ^Tjord Frankford.^^ 

The captain turned pale, for he knew Lord Frankford 
by name and reputation, and it was no joke to have 
arrested him. Still, he must do his duty. He said, ^^My 
lord, I believe you, but you understand that I am very 
painfully situated. I do not know you personally, and 
were I to let you go without more proof than your card. 


TPIE A]\IERICAN HEIRESS 


119 


and it should turn out that 3^011 are not Lord Frankford 
I would lose my place as captain of police; so I propose 
that you and the young lady remain here in my office and 
you can notify your friends through one of my men.” 

^^Very well/^ said his lordship, see that you are 
right;” and he wrote a message to his son on the back of 
one of his cards. The son arrived in great haste and very 
angry at the detectives for having made such a mistake. 
The captain trembled for the consequences, and as soon 
as the party had left he sent for his detectives and rated 
them soundl}^ for arresting a lord and his daughter for 
abducting a child. What had the force come to? — some 
allowing the guilty parties to escape right under their eyes, 
and others arresting a lord for the guilty party. 

Lord Frankford did not make any trouble for the de- 
tectives. He had great sympathy for Lady Montgomery, 
whom he knew, when he heard of the loss of the beautiful 
little girl who spoke French so fluently, and whom he had 
so often admired during her stay in London. 


120 


MISS HOGG 


CHAPTER XIX. 

The cabby was ordered to take Miss Hogg and her 
servant to a coffee shop not too near the station, which he 
did, and left them. He had seen nothing remarkable 
about them and soon forgot them. Miss Hogg and Katy 
had a good substantial tea ; then, carrying the port- 
manteau, they walked a few blocks ; they then called a cab 
and were taken to Richmond, only a short distance away, 
alighted a little way from their lodging, mounted the 
steps of a house, pretended to ring the bell, and stood there 
until the cabman had turned the corner; then ran down 
the steps and walked to their lodging. It being late, the 
house was dark; but Miss Hogg had her latchkey with 
her, so they got in quietly; taking a candle from a shelf 
where they were always kept in the hall, they crept upstairs 
without having met anyone. They were glad to get home 
again and soon retired, Katy going to her own room. 

Mrs. Hogg was greatly surprised the next morning to 
see her daughter walk into the breakfast room as if she had 
never left the house. ^^What time did you get back, dear 
she asked. 

Miss Hogg, not knowing how long her mother had re- 
mained up, didiiT dare fix the hour, so she answered, 
^"^0, it was quite late, ma; I had my latchkey and we got 
in without disturbing anyone.^^ 

^^But you had no supper, Mamie.’^ 

^^Sure, we had, at a restaurant near by.^^ 

^^How did you enjoy yourself in Liverpool with our 
friends — ^have they returned to Xew York yet ?” 

^^0, it was jolly; we had lots of fun; they sent com- 
pliments and were very sorry that you could n’t be there. 
I ’m awfully tired, do you know ? But where ’s Isabelle ?” 

^^There she is in the doorway, looking at you, my dear ; 
isn’t she lovely?” 

^Tes, she has certainly changed for the better; what a 
beautiful curly head she has! Come here; Isabelle, and 
hiss me/’ 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


121 


The child went to her, and throwing her arms round 
her neck, kissed her softly, raising her beautiful blue 
eyes to Miss Hogg's dark ones. She was richly dressed 
in white cambric and lace with blue sash and shoulder 
ribbons. 

^^0, you '11 do, you little dear,^^ said Miss Hogg, taking 
her in her lap, looking at her with interest and. thinking 
to herself she might easily be taken by a stranger for 
Ijady Florence. ^^She ^s fair, she ^s lovely, golden hair 
— cut short, it^s true, but Lady Florence's is cut short 
now. I had to do it, though it was a pity; it hung below 
her waist.^^ 

^*Well, Mamie, I never thought you were so fond of 
children ; you seem to have taken quite a liking to Isabelle. 
She is really a good child ; I doiiT know what I would 
do without her, my daughter, for, without blaming you, 
you are so often out that I feel quite lonely.^^ 

’m glad she makes you so happy, ma, and I do like 
her myself. Now, little one,^^ putting the child down, ‘‘1 
promised you a fine doll and you shall have it to-night; 
you can take her to bed with you ; she has plenty of clothes 
and you can dress and undress her to your hearFs con- 
tent.^’ 

Breakfast was brought up and the three sat down to it, 
Isabelle sitting between them and acting like a little lady, 
as she must really have been, for blood will tell. 

That afternoon Miss Hogg and Katy went to London 
by the underground railwa}^, and purchased an outfit for 
a girl of eight years and two dolls with their outfits. Then 
Katy was sent back to Richmond with one of the dolls 
and a message to Mrs. Hogg to the effect that Miss Hogg 
would remain at the Temperance Hotel with some Ameri- 
can friends, and would be pleased if she would bring 
Isabelle and join her there; it must be lonely for her and 
the child at Richmond. 

As soon as Katy had left. Miss Hogg took a cab and 
soon reached Burr street with her parcel. Dismissing the 
cab at a short distance from the house where she hoped 
to find Jerry, she carried her parcel to the door and 
knocked with a large knocker, for there was no bell 
on the old fashioned house. Jerry, who was on the look- 
out, came and opened the door, and taking the parcel from 


122 


MISS HOOa 


Miss Hogg, whom he mistook for Katy in the dark, for 
he had no idea that George was a woman, he walked up- 
stairs, Miss Hogg following. When they entered the 
lighted room he nearly dropped the parcel when he saw 
a strange lady standing before him ; he thought he had been 
betrayed. 

^^0, make your mind easy,^^ said Miss Hogg, closing the 
door; am the gentleman who has employed you;^^ and 
she laughed merrily at the astonished look on Jerry^s 
face. 

thought as much,^^ said Mrs. Jerry; knew the 

voice.^^ 

^"Well, sir — mum — I mean, here be the little boy, and 
I ^m glad you Ve come ; she still seems dazed and keeps 
on asking when we ^re going to take her to her aunt. Lady 
Montgomery, and why we liave dressed her in boy’s clothes, 
and such ugly ones too.” 

have brought her some clothes and a doll here in 
this parcel. But why did n’t you put on her own clothes 
as soon as you got here ?” 

^^Her own clothes, mum, her ovm clothes ! 0, we ’re 

lost ! I left them on a chair at our cottage.” 

^^Mother, surely, you so clever, never did that ?” 

^^But I did; and when we go back we’ll be hanged 
as sure as my name’s widow J erry. I ’ll never dare go 
back to my cottage again.” 

^^Nor I,’’ said Jerry; ought to have seen to it that 
we left no trace behind; but it’s too late now, so let’s 
attend to this business here or we ’ll soon be worse otf, 
I ’m thinking. I wish I could change my face a little, for 
if the police should visit our cottage — and they will when 
they don’t see us about, if they have n’t already done it — 
they ’ll find the clothes and be after us like wild fire.” 

^^You’re right,” said Miss Hogg; ^^you had better cut 
that long heard off ; leave a mustache ; that will change 
your appearance wonderfully; but don’t do it in the 
liouse. Go to a barber’s to-morrow, and instead of coming 
])ack here go to the west ^ide of London and find lodgings, 
not too far from Southampton Koad, but retired; then 
write to your mother to join you there ; or it would be best 
to meet her on the way, and buy her a front-piece of red 
hair that will change her appearance also, and she must 


THE AMERICAN- HEIRESS 123 

manage to put it on on the way to your new lodging. 
Do you understand 

^^Yes, mum; but you be clever^ and no mistake.^^ 

^^Well, you see, Jerry, it is too far for me to come here; 
I would be sure to be seen on the way. I want you to be 
nearer, where I can slip in day or night, without risk.^^ 

^^Well, mum, what do you say to near the Strand in 
a side street? No one would look for us there. If I can 
find rooms somewhere about there, what do you say, 
mum 

^^Well, you see, Jerry, I donH know much about Lon- 
don except where a certain cabman took me; he showed 
me this house and No. 10 Lemon street, and I have been to 
Drury Lane Theater and was surprised to find that it 
was in a common lane. Still I donT think it will suit me ; 
too many people go there and there are no nice lodgings, 
and if you take rooms among low people, with a child, 
you ^11 be found out in no time; so that won’t do. We’d 
better not hide, but take furnished rooms in a quiet, 
respectable, private house, and never mind the price. 
Dress yourself like a servant belonging to a rich family, 
and your mother as a nurse to the young lady; and you 
can represent the child as belonging to a rich American 
family; she lias been ill and requires rest and quiet; and 
that her family will visit her now and then and take her 
out for a ride. Try to get where there are no other lodgers, 
for they would be sure to pry into your affairs. Do you 
fully understand me?” 

^^Yes, mum,” answered Jerry; ’ll go at once.” 

^^No, there’s no hurry; to-morrow let your mother 
go out and buy what is wanted for herself ; then, the next 
day, or even the day after that will do. Don’t show any 
haste; arrange everything so that you will not have to 
return to this house; no one here must see you in 3^our 
new disguise. Then look for lodgings; pay one week in 
advance so that they may not ask for references ; then drop 
me a note telling me where I can meet you, and don’t 
let it be too far from my hotel; and whatever you do 
don’t put the number of your new lodgings in it.” 
understand, mum, and I ’ll do as you say.” 

‘L\nd so vdll T,” said the old woman, ^^as long as you 
tell :qie that no harm is intended to the child, I jnean no 


124 


MISS HOGG 


offense, ma^am, but as I don’t understand this business 
I must know before I go into it any deeper.” 

^^0, no harm will be done to the child ; in fact, you will 
be with her most of the time, and if you must know — ^you 
may as well be told — you are in it too deep to draw back 
now. It is this: Lady Montgomery has deeply insulted 
me and I am revenging myself on her by taking her niece 
away, for a time only, but she will be well cared for 
if you can be trusted to do it.” 

^^Thank you, ma’am ; I see my way now, and will help 
you, as I can’t very well help myself now that I dare n’t 
go back to my cottage; and I will certainly be kind to 
the little lady. But would n’t it be best to change her 
name ? I know that we can’t make her believe that Lady 
Florence is n’t her name, but we can make her understand 
that there would be danger in telling anyone. She is 
only eight years old; she will believe us when she sees 
how kind we are to her.” 

meant to do it. You will call her Miss Isabelle 
de Courtney. Yow I think I have told you all you need 
know. Write to Miss Hogg, Temperance Hotel, Southamp- 
ton Koad, when you are quite ready. How, Jerry, unpack 
this parcel.” 

Jerry hastened to obey, and Mrs. Jerry was surprised 
at the richness of the garments for the child. Miss Hogg- 
presented the doll to Lady Florence, who still looked dazed ; 
but when she saw the lovely doll she smiled at Miss Hogg, 
who kissed her, and murmured, could never hurt her; 
I ’m almost sorry I took her away ; but it ’s too late to 
draw back now.” 

Turning to Mrs. Jerry, she said, ^Terhaps it would be 
wiser not to put those clothes on her until you are ready 
to leave this place; it wouldn’t do for the people of this 
house to see her so richly dressed. Have they seen her 
yet?” 

^^Only once, as we came in, and it was dark then. Still, 
they believe her to be a boy, for the landlady remarked, as 
she showed us the rooms, ^The poor little boy is tired.’ 
^Yes, ma’am,’ I said, ffie is asleep, the poor deary; we came 
to town in a market wagon and he ’s nearly shook to pieces.’ 
^0, you come from the country?’ she said. ^Yes, ma’am, 
from Kent ; we ’ye been picking hops there/’ ” 


THE AMERICAN^ HEIRESS 


125 


then, under the circumstances it will be best not 
to change her clothes until you leave this house ; and then 
wrap her up well in a shawl so that they won’t see the 
change ; and don’t leave anything behind this time.” 

^'0, I ’ll see to that, mum,” replied Jerry. 

^^Now give the child that box of candies.” 

^"Box of what, mum?” 

^^Candies, you stupid ! or sweets, as you call them here.” 
yes, mum, I see.” 

The little lady took the box of sweets, thanked Miss 
Kogg for them and the doll, and asked, ^^When shall I 
see my dear aunt and cousin, madam?” 

^^0, very soon, my dear; but you see there are bad 
people who want to take you a^vay and make a gypsy of 
you ; and as soon as they have gone away I ’ll take you 
back to your aunt. We are going to call you Miss Isabelle 
de Courtney so that they may not find 3 ^ou out; so you 
must not tell anyone your real name; do you understand 
that ?” 

^^Yes ; but my head hurts me so much. I want to sleep.” 
And she dozed off again. 

^^You will have to give her some medicine, Mrs. Jerry; 
I ’m afraid she ’s been drugged too much. Now I ’m off. 
Good night.” 

Jerry went to the door with her, then v/ent back to his 
mother and said : ^^Well, this is a funny business ; I ’m 
almost sorry that we ’ve had anything to do with it, for you 
see as the child ’s with us, if we ’re taken we ’ll be terribly 
punished, and Miss Hogg will escape scot-free, for of 
course she ’ll deny everything, and what proof have we 
against her? Not that I care much for Lord and Lady 
^Montgomery, for they have had me hunted like a hound 
for the few rabbits and hares that I ’ve caught on their 
grounds. That Harrison has often shot at me; it’s a 
wonder that I ’m still alive. And yet I never did steal, for 
I don’t call poaching stealing. Not long ago I heard Lord 
Montgomery tell Harrison that he must look sharper after 
the poachers as the game was getting scarce. I was hiding 
in the bushes, lying fiat on my stomach. I dared not move 
for fear of being seen. Well, what I v/ant to tell you is 
about this here lady. Before Harrison could answer a 
cab drove up to the gate and a lady jumped out; and the 


126 


MISS HOGG 


way she rushed to Lord Montgomery, holding out her two 
hands to him, showed plainly that she was in love with 
him/^ 

^^And was he in love with her?^^ 

^^No, he didnH even take her hand; he had his hat in 
one hand and his stick in the other. This lady that I rec- 
ognized to-night is the same one, though I did nT know her, 
or even suspect her, when she was disguised as a man ; but 
now I see through her as through a pane of glass. She 
has been slighted by Lord and Lady Montgomery and she 
wants to revenge herself, and she has caught us in her 
net so that we canT get out of it, so we must go ahead ; but, 
as there is great risk, she will have to pay a good price.^^ 

believe she ^s willing to do so,^^ replied his mother, 
‘^and I ^m glad that we ^re not working in the dark. She ^s 
a dangerous woman, for she has plenty of money, and 
she ^s very clever, that she is, and she has no scruples. 
Those Americans, most of them, leastways, are brought 
up to all kinds of trickery and stops at nothing, they 
are so brazen. Lots of those American girls come here hus- 
band-hunting ; there ^s no shyness about them; theyh*e 
always talking of their money. I heard Major Dawson 
talking and joking about them with Colonel Pierson the 
other day, without mercy.^^ 

^^Well, my boy, I believe 3^011 ^re right about this lady; 
but take my advice, and donT let her see that you know the 
secret, or we shall be the next ones to suffer. If she was 
to drop us now what would become of us? We can’t go 
back home, you know.” 

^‘^True, mother, we have to go on if it takes us to the 
gallows.” 

^^Hot quite so bad; we didn’t take the child, though 
we could n’t prove that ; and I ’m going to watch over her 
and see that she don’t get hurt ; and, to tell you the truth, 
I don’t think she means to harm her.” 

^^ISTo, mother, I don’t think so either. I believe she 
has taken it into her head that Lord Montgomery will 
come to terms with her for the sake of his cousin. He will 
never do it ; we don’t do business that way here ; she ’ll 
get into trouble herself. However, since we ’re in it we 
must work with a will and outwit the detectives. I must say 
that we'j*e working for a clever woman; there's some 


THE AMERICAJ^ HEIHESS 


127 


encouragement in that. She plans like a detective^ that 
she does ; and you h*e right, mother, we ^re in the same 
boat with her and we *11 sink or swim together. You ^d 
better see to-morrow about getting a good outfit for your- 
self.^^ 

^^0, there ^s no hurry, deary ; I hn very tired with travel- 
ing and the excitement ; 1 11 rest to-morrow, and the next 
day 1 11 see about it.'’^ 

^^All right, mother ; but if I was you I M strike while 
the iron ’s hot. A day may change things for us.^^ 

^^You heard Miss Hogg say that you were not to 
hurry ?'^ 

^^Yes ; still, I don^t feel easy about losing a day.^^ 


128 


HISS HOGG 


CHAPTER XX. 

We left Walgrave returning to London after having 
wasted his time searching for the tramps and their boy. 
He arrived in London the very day that Mrs. Jerry went 
out to purchase her outfit. He learned that Lord Frank- 
ford and his daughter had been arrested^ and that the 
culprits had escaped. Mathew had come down and gone 
back again, looking very wise, and had left no word of 
what he was about; he was a clever man; in fact he had 
found out more than Walgrave had. 

When Walgrave had learned that the woman at the 
Red Lion had taken him in, his anger knew no bounds; 
he almost choked with rage; he who had never failed 
before, and whose name was the first on the list of clever 
detectives ! Why, if this went on he would lose his record 
of twenty years of hard work, experience, and fame. And 
to think that he had been done brown by that jade with 
her soda water, her merry eyes, reddish hair, and mouthful 
of stories about carriage, little girl, and lady! Ho wonder 
she had laughed so merrily to see him swallow all her trash ! 
Most likely she knew him, and had come downstairs to play 
him the trick of sending him on a wrong track. And 
how she had fooled the detective on the platform! She 
seemed to be the chief mover. What ^s the matter with the 
man f That ’s where the secret lies, and I must get at the 
root of it. I *d know the girl anywhere, I M bet my head.^^ 

It was well for him that no one was there to take his 
bet seriously, or he would soon have lost that clever head of 
his. He reflected that it would be best to find out at what 
station the tramps and their boy had arrived in London, 
for they had the child with them and they could n’t slip 
through his fingers as easily as the dark gentleman and his 
wife had done. ^^Wife indeed, the jade ! 0, my lady, your 
time will come yet! You won’t catch Sidney Walgrave 
twice in the same trap ! Soda water, you vixen ! I wish 
it had choked that fine husband of yours, I do, by Jove! 
Come, come, Walgrave, calm yourself, my son, or things 


5^irE AMli)RtdAis+ 


129 


will turn out badly for you. You have put your foot in it 
already, and if you don^t keep that temper of yours down 
you ^11 fall headlong into the pit and that Mathew will 
overreach you yet ; I feel it/’ said he, addressing himself as 
he drove from the station, making inquiries which no one 
seemed able to answer. 

He was getting tired and disheartened as he left Watei"- 
loo Station and went up Waterloo Eoad, and was mur- 
muring to himself, ^"^It ’s all very well to say ^keep down 
your temper,^ but here I ^^e been hunting all day and have 
gone to every station b}^' which they were likely to arrive in 
London, and no one has seen them. Where do people keep 
their eyes ! Did they come in in a balloon, or on a broom- 
stick, perchance?’^ 

^^Mr. Walgrave, sir, can I help you?^’ said a shoeblack 
who had been following the detective for some time. 

^^Ho, you Qdin’t/’ answered the detective, angrily; ^^no 
one can, it seems ; the devil must be in it. I ^m looking 
for some tramps — at least they were disguised as tramps 
when they left a certain place."^^ 

^^How many were there asked the boy. 

^^One man, about thirty, his mother, and a little boy 
eight years old ; but, of course you have n^t seen them ; no 
one seems to have eyes to-day.^^ 

^^Well, I have,^^ said the boy. have seen no tramps, 
but I saw coming out of the station — not to-day, though, 
it must have been two or three days ago^^ 

^^That ’s it ; that ^s it ; speak, boy. What did you see ? 
Quick ! But here, let ^s get into this hallway. Now what 
did you see — ^the tramps 

^^No, sir; but a man about the age you said, and a 
woman carrying a child wrapped up just as if it was 
sick. The man had a bundle, but they were clean-looking 
people; no one could call them tramps, but they were 
countrified and seemed to want to get away from the 
crowd; they pushed their way out of the station and took 
an omnibus.^^ 

^TVhich way did they go, up or down 

^^They went over Waterloo Bridge, for I stood looking 
at them; why, I don’t know, unless it was instinct, for I 
want to be a detective some day.” 

^^Yes, yes, it must be them. You saw them get in the 


m 


MISS HOG(i 


omnibus, but who saw them get out ? — that ^s the push. 
What omnibus was it 

one belonging to the Elephant and Castle, ISTo. 8/^ 

^^Are you sure it was hTo. 8?'^ 

^‘^Yes, sir, for old [Nicholas is the driver, and I saw him 
plain ; he ^s always racing with the other companies’ om- 
nibuses and getting into trouble ; the people in his omnibus 
don’t like it ; they ’re afraid of upsetting, and they take his 
number and bring a complaint against him, and if he 
liad n’t been so long with the company he ’d be dis- 
charged.” 

‘^'Well, my lad, you see old N^icholas, find out what you 
can, and then come to me at that little coffee shop near 
Tlungerford market, where you ’ve been so often, and 
I ’ll give you a good supper, my lad, and something more 
if you can put me on the track of those parties. Here 
comes Ho. 8 omnibus. Y^ou get in and pump the old man, 
and I ’ll take the next one and meet you on the other side of 
the bridge where I told you.” 

The lad jumped up and sat by the driver, with his 
box of blacking and brushes, for he would not have been 
allowed inside. Shoeblacks are not expected to ride, but 
tramp from street to street. Such is life ! 

The detective, on arriving at the west side of Waterloo 
Bridge, got down, turned to his left and walked till he 
arrived at Hungerford market at the end of Hungerford 
Bridge. The market is no longer there, but in its place 
is a grand railway station known as the Charing Cross 
Station ; but at the time that I am writing about, there was 
a fine market there. Detective Walgrave passed through 
it on his way to the coffee shop, bought a fine lobster for 
his supper, and, being very hungry, bought the largest 
one he could find; and as he turned away with it his 
mouth watered with anticipation of the grand supper he 
would make; but, as time will show, the lobster was never 
destined to go closer to AYalgrave’s heart than it was at 
that time, tightly pressed against his left side with his 
strong arm, as if defying it to escape him. 

There were very few persons in the coffee shop, it being 
late, and business at this place being done mostly in the 
morning and from twelve to two o’clock, and was patronized 
by workmen. For three pence they could get a large 


THE AMEKICAN HEIRESS 


131 


cup of tea or coffee, and if they wished to bring an egg 
or a herring it was cooked free for them. Such was the 
place that Walgrave had chosen to take his supper in, for, 
having invited the shoeblack, he could not have gone to 
a hotel. He walked to a retired corner of the room, sat 
down on the bench at a small table, and ordered a cup 
of coffee, bread and butter, pepper and salt, vinegar and 
oil. Ht will be a little extra,^^ remarked the waiter; ^^All 
right, my man, I ^11 pay the difference,^^ and he began to 
prepare his lobster. Everybody had left by this time, 
except one man who was eating his supper, not far from 
Walgrave; the lobster was ready and the sauce just to the 
detective^s taste; he was about to take the first mouthful 
when the door opened and the shoeblack entered with 
a downcast look; he had failed to find the tramp. 

^^Come here and have your supper,^’ said the detective. 

see by your face that you have not found my tramp.^^ 

At the word ^^tramp’^ the man at the other table had 
given a start, and had half turned round and recognized 
tlie detective. He hardly knew how to act. The look he 
gave the detective proved to him that he was not known 
to him, so he thought himself safe. But he had reckoned 
without the boy, who was really quite unknown to him, and 
from whom he feared no danger. But no sooner had the 
boy looked at him as he turned round than his face changed 
from disappointment to joy, as he answered, ^‘^Yes, I have, 
sir ; here he be ; that ^s the man f and he rushed at J erry, 
for it was really him. 

But J erry was not a coward, and he made up his mind to 
fight for his liberty; so when he saw that he was known 
he jumped up, gave the lad a box on the ear that brought 
him to the fioor, and ran for the door. He reached it first, 
but Walgrave was after him like a shot. Jerry stopped 
short in the doorway. The detective, v/ho was running 
full speed, bumped against him with such terrific force 
that he fell backwards to the floor, half stunned, while 
Jerry rushed out. Happily it was dark in this lane or he 
could not have run far in the streets of London without 
being stopped. When he reached the main street he looked 
about for a cab, and, as luck would have it, he not only saw 
one, but two, worse luck ! He called one, jumped in and call- 
ed out; ^‘^To Whitechapel Eoad.^^ It was time; for he could 


132 


MISS HOGG 


hear footsteps coming in the lane he had just left. The de- 
tective and boy had recovered from their fall. The boy was 
ahead and reached the head of the lane in time to see 
Jerry get into the cab, and cried to the other cab just 
passing, ^^Stop and take a gentleman that ^s coming,^^ 
he rushed after Jerry^s cab and managed to overtake it 
and hang behind for quite a while before he was seen by 
a passing cabman, who called out, ^^Cut behind.^^ Cabby 
did cut behind, and to such good purpose that the boy 
dropped off in a hurry, howling like one possessed, and 
rubbing his back. But, though the boy was gotten rid of, 
apparently, at least, Jerry was not safe, though he seemed 
to be far ahead of the detective, and he might yet have 
escaped but for an unforeseen catastrophe. 

As they neared the end of London Bridge they saw a 
great impassable crowd, and they found themselves at a 
dead stop — for where there is a crowd in London you 
have to wait for it to disperse, for there is no backing out 
of it ; so that J erry found himself in the middle of a dense 
crowd of people and vehicles, unable to take a step back- 
wards or forwards. The detective could not be far off. 
Would Jerry stay there and be caught? said he, 

^^not if T know it;^^ and, opening the cab door, he slipped 
out among the crowd, closing the door. 

He saw that the cause of the tumult was the upsetting 
of a large beer wagon; a wheel had come off and all the 
barrels were rolling about the street and stopping the 
thoroughfare ; the crowd was getting greater every moment ; 
dozens of cabs, omnibuses, wagons, trucks, pushcarts, were 
accumulating; half a dozen policemen pushing their way 
among the people, bullying and making a great noise, but 
affording very little help. 

Jerry did not stay to see how all this would end, but 
he worked his way the best he could till he reached the steps 
which led to the small steamer which plied from bridge to 
bridge for a half penny; he hid in the dark stores till 
he saw one coming down the river. The steamer stopped 
and a few passengers boarded her from the small platform. 
Jerry leaped aboard and felt safe; he had not noticed that 
just behind him was the boy who had betrayed him to 
the detective, and that he also had boarded tbe steapior^ 


THE A^ilERICAH HEIRESS 


133 


had gone to hide behind one of the boats, and was watching 
him with cat^s eyes. 

Jerry thanked his stars that he had escaped so well. 
This steamer would take him to the lower part of Burr 
street, not far from the Tower of London. He was there in 
a few minutes and leaped out. Jerry was not a fool; he 
didn't look behind him for fear of being noticed should 
any of the detectives be on board ; nor would he go straight 
home, for the same reason; he walked a little up Burr 
street, then turned to his* right, then to his left, and walk- 
ing briskly for some distance, arrived near London docks; 
at the other end of Burr street he looked over his shoulder 
and saw a good sized boy hide in a doorway. ^^Ah, ha,^^ 
thought he, ' m followed ; well, my lad, I ^11 give you 
the slip in no time. I Ve played that game more than 
once with the gamekeepers. He did not turn to look back 
again, but kept on, and instead of turning on his left 
to go to Burr street, he turned to his right, and before the 
boy could reach the turning he ran full speed for a short 
distance, then crossed the road at a dark place and hid 
in a doorway equally dark, and waited to see what the 
boy would do. He had nT long to wait for he soon 
turned the corner puffing and blowing, and looked all 
about like a lost dog in search of his. master. The man 
had disappeared ; he must know that he was followed ; where 
had he gone? Perhaps he lived somewhere about here; 
and the lad looked from door to door on his right, for 
he was sure that the man had turned to the right. He 
would look on the right first, then the left as he came 
back. Jerry understood his maneuvers and thought, 
must make a move soon or he will be on me.^^ 

A few people were coming and going, and he watched 
his opportunity, and when he saw a man and a woman 
coming his way he stepped out of the doorway as if he were 
just leaving the house, and walked in front of them, so 
that if the boy turned round to look he would only see 
the backs of these two persons who had passed him in 
the dim gaslight. 

Jerry hurried away, turned to his left, found himself 
in Burr street, and reached his lodgings without any 
more adventures. We shall leave him there for the present. 


134 


MISS HOGG 


with our advice to decamp as soon as possible if he is wise, 
for delays are dangerous. 

The bo}^, v/lioin we shall call Jack, hunted about, hid 
in doorways, watched, even knocked at some doors and 
inquired for a man with a long brown beard, telling the 
people who answered the bell that the man was his uncle, 
whom he had come to see and had lost his address, but 
that he lived somewhere about the neighborhood; he even 
sniveled a little to give more effect to his distress; but 
though some sympathized with him others slammed the 
door in his face, saying, ^^None of your games with me; 
I know you ; you Te up to some dodge, I dl bet, my fine 
fellow; no one with a long beard lives here, or ever did, 
so get out with you.^^ 

So he had lost the clew. doiTt care,^^ he said to 
himself, won’t lose courage; he must live somewhere 
along here, or why should he have disappeared so sud- 
denly.^’ 

However, it was getting too late to knock at any more 
doors. He felt very hungry for he had not had the supper 
promised him by the detective, nor would it be any use 
to go back for it, for Mr. Walgrave was probably hunting 
in another direction; so, as he had a few pennies in his 
pocket he would go to a cookshop, buy a penny’s worth 
of yesterday’s and have a jolly feed. He did so, getting a 
big paper full of remnants and scrapings of the day before ; 
and, having satisfied his appetite, he looked about for 
a place to sleep in. It was hard to find. He dare not go 
in a hallway for he might be given up to the police, so he 
went down Burr street to the river and actually passed 
Jerry’s lodgings, but his good angel did not whisper it 
to him; so he kept on his way till he reached the river, 
and he asked an old bargeman to allow him to sleep in 
his boat under a sail, and the old man consented and pitied 
the poor boy who had no home, which fact did n’t seem 
to trouble Jack, who slept like a top till what hour the 
next day he could n’t tell ; but when he threw back the sail 
from his head the sun was shining brightly and the barge 
was going down the river. 

^Tdello, 3^oungster,” called the old man, merrily, ^^so 
you are awake, hey ? I thought you would never wake ; it ’s 
now twelve, do you know?” 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 

^^Twelve/^ said Jack, with a start and disappointment 
in his voice, ^^and I ought to be at work/^ 

right, my boy, you shine my shoes and I "11 give 
you your dinner, for it "s too late for breakfast now and 
the old man laughed. 

But poor Jack could not laugh, and he explained that 
he was to have met his uncle that morning by the London 
Dock, and that having slept so long he had missed him. 

^^All right, my lad, we "11 be back at the foot of Burr 
street by two; we are just going to that ship yonder to 
get a load of hay."" 

By half past two he was in Burr street again, and 
he made up his mind to investigate by going from house 
to house, and he began at once. He found many houses 
containing lodgers with long brown beards, for many 
foreign captains lodge in Burr street to be near their ships ; 
but none had an old woman and a boy with him. 

Jack was losing courage. ^^0, but this is a wild goose 
chase, and no mistake ! I "11 try two more houses, and if 
I don"t succeed I "11 go back to Mr. Walgrave and tell him 
where I lost the man. I am sorry I slept so late but I 
was so tired."" 

He knocked at 'So. 15. Chance had brought him there. 
A little girl opened the door and he made the same inquiries 
of her. The little girl said : ^^Yes, there "s a man here 
with a long beard, and an old woman with a little boy. 
Are you his brother? Do you want to go up?"" 

^^What room do they live in?"" asked Jack. 

^^0, right at the top of the house,"" said the girl ; "11 

show you."" 

^^Well, not now,"" said Jack, ^H"ll come to-morrow. I 
only wanted to know if they had come yet. Don"t tell 
them that I "ve been here. I want to give them a surprise. 
Good by."" And he hurried away, rejoiced at the discovery 
he had made. He ran to the river, boarded a small steamer, 
that being the cheapest and quickest way. It was getting 
dark. He landed at Hungerford Bridge, ran to the coffee 
shop in the hope of finding the detective there, or at 
least a note from him, telling him where to meet him. 

He was not mistaken. A note awaited him there; 
it read thus : will be here at eight p. m. Wait for me."" 

As it was near that time J ack did not have long to wait. 


136 


MISS noaa 


Walgrave came in at the appointed time, looking worried 
and exhausted, but his face brightened when he saw the 
boy’s sparkling eyes. He knew that he had good news ; so 
he called to him, ^^Come here. Jack, and tell me all you 
know.” 

Jack did so. 

^^Bravo, Jack,” said Walgrave, ^Vhy, you ’re a detective 
already ; well done, my boy ; here ’s a shilling ; get some 
supper. I ’m oif to catch my tramps.” 

^^Don’t you want me, Mr. Walgrave?” 

^^Ho, my lad; you look done up.” 

Walgrave walked out as if treading on air, so pleased 
was he to be on the right tack again. ^^0, ho, Mr. Mathew, 
what will you say when you hear that while you are looking 
in the country for the tramps I have them here under 
my thumb, or soon will have them, at least?” Jumping 
into a cab he was at Burr street in three quarters of an hour 
knocking at the door of ISTo. 15. A stout woman of about 
fifty opened the door and asked him what he wanted. 
H want to see a friend of mine who lives here with his 
mother and boy.” 

^Jndeed,” said the woman, ^fif I had known that he 
was to have people calling on him every hour of the day, 
and night too, I would n’t have let the rooms.” 

Walgrave thought the girl must have told her mistress 
about Jack having called. He only hoped she didn’t 
tell Jerry. ^W^ell, ma’am, it’s only for once; I won’t call 
again. On the top floor, you said?” 

^^Ho, I did n’t say so ; but it is. I shall have to go and 
light you up, perchance.” 

^^No, ma’am; I’ll find my way, don’t trouble;” and, 
running lightly up the stairs, thinking to himself, ^W^ill 
he show fight? I don’t think he would dare; it would 
only make it worse for him,” he went up four flights, and, 
tiptoeing, he placed his ear at the door and listened; but 
whoever was in was either very quiet or asleep. The detec- 
tive opened the door gently but quickly. A strong man was 
sitting in the furthest corner of the room, and as Walgrave 
opened the door the man gave a leap that brought down 
the candle, leaving the room in semi-darkness; only the 
gas from the street threw its pale light into the room, 
and, this being the fourth story, it was very dim. 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


137 

But if Walgrave had flattered himself that Jerry would 
not give light he found himself mistaken, for he seemed 
as anxious to get at Walgrave as Walgrave was to get at 
him; and he was a strong man and quite a match for the 
detective, who certainly had not expected this attack or he 
would have had some of his men on the lookout to help 
him, but he wanted all the honor of the arrest to himself. 
jSTow, would he be able to prevent Jerry^s escape? All 
these thoughts passed through his mind as he fought des- 
perately with the poacher. Furious blows were given and 
returned. 'Not a, word had been spoken on either side, but 
they were puffing and blowing like steam engines. Surely 
it could not last long or they would murder each other. 
A^algrave’s nose was bleeding and he had seen stars a good 
many times ; he must try to trip J erry, so, twisting his leg 
around the poacher’s, they both fell with a crash that 
shook the house and brought down the table with what 
sounded like glasses. They rolled on the floor, but often 
Jerry was the uppermost, and poor Walgrave felt him- 
self choking under the weight of Jerry’s heavy body; 
still, he would not give in ; no, not if he died for it ; so he 
got J erry by the throat and rolled him over, but he was not 
able to keep him down for he was a much lighter and 
older man than Jerry. They had rolled so that they had 
reached the landing; many of the tenants were alarmed; 
women w^ere screaming and children crying; the landlady 
was scolding and threatening to turn them out if they 
did n’t stop fighting ; they must remember they were in a 
respectable house. 

‘^^You don’t seem to mind me; I’m coming up there;” 
and she was just mounting the stairs Avith a light when 
J erry and the detective, who had not ceased to batter each 
other, and did n’t even know that they were on the landing, 
rolled together down a seemingly bottomless pit, Avith half 
a dozen women and as many candles rolling with them 
to where a lot of people and two policemen weye standing. 

^^Thank heaven,” murmured Walgrave, Jerry won’t 
escape.” 

^Thank God,” said Jerry, have you, my fine fellow.” 
And Walgrave and Jerry stood up and faced each otiior, 
and saw Avhat? 

Yes, Avhat did Walgrave see? Had he the nightmare?- 


138 


MISS HOGG 


Xo, it was really Mathew, the detective, covered with 
blood, it true, but still Mathew, staring at him as much 
surprised as he was himself. thought you Avere Jerry 
he said. 

‘‘^And I thought that you were Jerry 

^‘Now what^s all this?^^ said the policeman who had 
been fetched by some of the tenants. ^^If you think to 
escape by playing the fool it won’t do. Come along with 
us.” 

^“^But we are detectives,” they tried to explain, but to 
no purpose. 

‘^Detectives, indeed, fighting like two devils. Come 
along.” And the policemen, each taking one detective by 
the coat collar, and shaking him, marched them to the 
police station. The tenants picked up their landlady and 
sent for a doctor, who, when he saAV her, thought she had 
been scalped; her face was covered with blood and her 
head as bare as a pole. 

^‘^Who did this?” he asked with a voice of thunder. 
‘Tf we were in J^orth America I would say that it is the 
Avork of red Indians ; but here, in England ! Will no one 
answer me? Did any of 3^ou do it?” 

^^No, no,” they all repeated; ^ht Avas tAvo detectives; at 
least they said they AA^ere detectives.” 

^^Detectives !” repeated the doctor, with indignation; 
^^Two thieves, more likely. Did they rob her ?” 

But before anyone could answer him he received a bloAv 
in the face which nearly knocked him over. They had not 
been idle during all these inquiries. The old woman’s face 
had been bathed with cold Avater in order to ascertain the 
extent of her injuries; this had revived her, and, woman- 
like, her first thought had been for her appearance. liais- 
ing her hands hurriedly to feel her hair, they had come 
in contact with the face of the doctor, who was bending 
over her, and had sent him on his back, and in order to saA^e 
liimself he had very naturally caught at the first object 
within his reach, which happened to be a chair with a basin 
of water on it ; the chair flew over his head, Avhile the basin 
slipped off and emptied its contents in the doctor’s face ; he 
began to spit with all his might, not relishing blood and 
water, however much he might have liked spirits and 
water. 


THE AMERIOAH HEIRESS 


139 


The old woman jumped up when she had felt her head 
bare, and was screaming : ^‘'Where "s my hair ? Where ’s 
my hair? 0, you villain, what have you done with my 
hair?’^ and having no idea that it was the doctor she was 
addressing, she continued: ^^Wait, my fine fellow, I fil help 
you; spitting at me, indeed and picking up the tin 
basin, she began to belabor him with it. Bang, bang it 
went on the top of the doctor’s head, with a noise like 
thunder ! Poor doctor ! If no one had come to his rescue 
lie would soon find himself not only without hair but 
without a head. Some one took pity on him and stood 
between him and the enraged landlady, which maneuver 
gave the doctor time to rise. He picked up what he thought 
was his handkerchief, and began to mop his face, but he 
was soon spitting worse than ever. It was the old woman’s 
wig that he had mistaken for his handkerchief. 0, 
horror ! His mouth was full of nasty hair, and it seemed 
to stick right down his throat. 

The old lady made a rush for the wig, and, shaking 
it in his face, shrieked: ^^0, it’s not enough for you to 
be fighting in the room I rented you, you must knock me 
down the stairs and pull the hair off my head, eh ? Where ’s 
the other blackguard you were fighting with? Why don’t 
you answer me instead of shoving your hands down your 
throat and spitting like those nasty fishes — I forget their 
names — they spit black; and you spit red. You won’t 
answer, eh ? Take that,” and she gave him a whack with her 
wig, right across the eyes, which made him wink. 

‘'^Say, madam, how dare you ? What kind of a place is 
this I ’ve been called to ?” 

respectable house, I ’d have you know, you son of a 
sea cook, and you won’t stay in it, I can tell you, nor your 
nasty old mother either; what kind of bringing up has 
she given 3 ^ou?” 

^^My mother, why, you know nothing about my mother, 
woman; how dare you insult her?” 

One of the tenants had been pulling at her skirts for 
some time, trying to make her understand that she was 
talking to the doctor, and not to her tenant, and she had 
understood his actions as encouragement to go on. At 
last an old maid, as dry as a stick. Miss Jennings by name, 
screamed in her ear: ^^Are you blind, Mrs. Chaney ? That 


140 


MISS HOGG 


gentleman the doctor Ave \e sent for, and not the gentle- 
inan with the long beard — can^t you see 

^‘^Lord 0 ^ mercy, is that true, and me beating him like 
crazy, mistaking him for that low fighting fellow V’ She 
wiped the blood from her nose with the wig, forgetting in 
her excitement that it was n^t her handkerchief. However, 
she was saved from a long explanation by the arrival of a 
policeman, and remembering that she had no wig, at least, 
not on her head, she rushed aAvay and disappeared down 
the basement stairs, leaving the doctor and the tenants 
to adjust matters Avith the bluecoat, who looked about, not 
knowing Avhat to make of this new fracas. But as no one 
made a complaint he asked to be allowed to go to the room 
where the tAvo men had been fighting, as he wanted to find 
a detective^s badge which must have been lost during the 
struggle. 

Miss Jennings gave him a lighted candle, telling him 
he would have to go alone as the landlady Avas ill, and she, 
being a single young lady, he could n^t expect her to go. 

The policeman smiled and said he did nT know where 
the men^s eyes were to allow her to remain single, and that 
he wished he was not married himself. 

^^0, now then, get away Avith you; do you really mean 

itr 

He smiled and pressed her hand as he took the candle- 
stick from her, saying as he Avent upstairs, ^^Well, really, 
love never dies — hope, I mean — here ^s this bag o^ bones, 
with a skin like parchment, would get married if she 
could r 


AMElRtOAl^ 


141 


CHAPTiiE XXi; 

Walc^rav:^ aiid Mathew were dragged away not over 
gently, for they were supposed to be drunk, and certainly 
looked far from respectable, with their torn clothes and 
bloody and bruised faces. Walgrave had one eye closed, 
while Mathew ^s nose was double its ordinary size, and as 
red as a tomato. They walked quickly for some distance^ 
for they were dazed. Walgrave^s temper was up. He, one 
of the best detectives, dragged along the street by a common 
policeman, and shaken like a dog. He was coming to his 
senses, though his head felt like a drum; he felt his 
position deeply. A thought struck him and he stood still, 
shaking himself free of the policeman^s grip, and he said : 
“^Look here, fellow, I can prove to you that I ^m a deteetive ; 
I T1 show you my badge.^^ He searched for it where he 
generally kept it, but it was no longer there ; and though he 
examined all his poekets he could nT find it. 

^^Here, here, enough of that tomfoolery said the 
policeman ; ^fif you ^re a detective, I ^m the pope ; ha, ha, 
ha ! Xow then, take my advice and donT try to get away 
or else youTl get a rap on the head before you know it, 
and I should think youkl had enough of that for once.^^ 
And so poor Walgrave had to march to the station, the 
policeman holding him by the collar as if he were a mere 
thief. Yet he could not blame the policeman, who was 
only doing his duty. 

Mathew had not thought of his badge, and being at 
some distance ahead of Walgrave, he had not heard what 
had just passed between him and the policeman, or they 
might both have been allowed to go free, for Mathew’s 
badge was hanging by a string around his neck. Luckily 
the station was not far off, and when the captain heard what 
they had to say, and saw Mathew’s badge, he knew that they 
were both detectives ; he did not recognize the name of 
Mathew, but the name of Walgrave, the famous detective 
who was known to be employed on the case of Lady Mont- 
gomery, was known, and to see him in such a dreadful 


Miss HOCd 


142 

plight was terrible. The captain placed his room at their 
disposal and the doctor was called in. One policeman was 
sent in search of the missing badge and another for 
decent clothes for both; then a cab was fetched and Wal- 
grave and Mathew rode to Scotland Yard to explain mat- 
ters and to ask leave for a week, for it was not possible for 
either of them to attempt detective work for a time. 

As they left Scotland Yard together in the cab Wal- 
grave said to Mathew: ‘‘Now I want you to come to my 
rooms and tell me how you came to be in Jerry’s lodgings 
when I thought you miles away.” 

‘AYell, you see, Mr. Walgrave, I wanted to be too 
clever, and to arrest J erry all by myself, and I ’ve paid 
dearly for it, besides nearly murdering you; but I think I 
got the worst of it. You have fists like iron,” he said 
flatteringly, for in reality Walgrave had suffered most, 
and Mathew knew it. 

When they reached Walgrave’s rooms they had a good 
supper and some brandy, which made them feel more 
like themselves; and though they were bruised and sore 
they did justice to the meal ; and as they sat back in their 
chairs, Avith another glass before them, they could not help 
laughing at the appearance that each presented, each 
thinking he Avas the better looking, when in reality it Avas 
six of one and half a dozen of the other. Walgrave laughed 
at Mathew, who mopped his sAvollen nose delicately, as 
though it AA'ere a peach, from Avhich he feared to rub 
the bloom; and MatheAv laughed at Walgrave’s half-closed 
eye that kept Avinking at him ; ^^And to think that I did it,” 
thought MatheAv. ^‘0, that’s too good for anything, my 
poor chief,” and though he was in great pain he laughed 
merrily. 

^^Come, come,” said Walgrave, ^^just stop laughing; you 
look worse than I do, and tell me how you came to be at 
Jerry’s before me.” 

^^With pleasure, Mr. Walgrave. Of course you know 
that I found Lady Florence’s clothes at Jerry’s house.” 

^^Yes, yes, I knoAV that.” 

^Well, I came to London as soon as I could after tele- 
graphing about that smart couple you saw at the Eed 
Lion, and who passed under Jackson’s nose. I was told 
by one of the parties that the young woman actually 


THE AMEEICALn HEIRESS 


143 

flirted with him, and that wiJis whj^ he never noticed the 
man. There’s trouble brewing for Jackson; he wasn’t 
put there to flirt; the captain! is wild about it.’’ 

“Well,” said Walgrave, ‘fhe’s no worse than we are- 
we’ve all failed. See how /she fooled me with her soda 
water, and I was n’t flirting fwith her ; I thought I was ex- 
ceedingly clever, and that was pumping her, when in 
reality I was like wax in he;r clever hands; but wait; I ’ll 
catch her yet; I ’m sure to /know her again. But go on- 
I ’m curious to find out hovf- you knew where Jerry lived ’’ 

“Well, as I was saying, |l came to London hoping that 
they had been caught, and I was told that Lord Frank^ord 
and his daughter had beefi arrested instead of the two T 
liad described, and that the guilty parties had entirelv 
disappeared. I made a few inquiries to no^purpose. Then 
the thought struck me that the Jerrys /ould remembe 
having left the clothes in their cottag/ and, of course^ 
he would come back for them, never t&king that in h’’ 
hurry to leave, he had left the door Q»en; so I return 1 
and lay in wait for him, for I though if I caught Jerrv 
we would soon make him tell about tlVchild ; and I smil d 
to myself in anticipation of the greaneast I would mak 
and the blank look on Jerry’s facji'hen he found me ' 
possession of the clothes and waits for him. I reached 
the cottage at night, and pushin/he door to I sat and 
waited for him, for they must /ve missed the clothes 
when they got to their lodgin/ and I thought thev 
would come back by the midivt train. I beard the 
whistle and said to myself, ‘He^e here in a quarter of 
an hour.’ But no; hours pas/ and no Jerry. J 
mad with disappointment. Ha^ heard that the clothes 
had been found ? Perhaps he * n’t missed them yet - so 
I waited and hoped that he^W yet come. I could 
see through the cracks in tlv^tters that day u^a.s be 
ginning to daAvn; I walked poor, for I had been sit- 
ting on a hard chair all nigl^ '"’as very stiff. J looked 
at my watch and saw that r® sight o’clock. J would 
wait until nine; then if no/ same I would go back in 
London by the half past / t^am. I pushed an old 
easy chair near the window down in it and thono-bf 
mat a fool I have been tAd night on a wooden chai- 
while this old but coinfp dne was near xney and 


144 MISS I HOGG 

I looked angrily at the woode:n chair as if it was to blame, 
and not I. But what was that on the floor? Something 
white; it was not there a moinent ago. I got up quickly 
and picked up the something, which must have been under 
the big armchair before I pushed it near the window.^^ 

‘^^Well, what was it?’^ asked Walgrave, excitedly. ‘^"Do 
get on; you are so slow.^^ 

^m coming to it, and you would have known by this 
time if you had n^t interrupted me. Well, it was a piece 
of paper with two addresses written on it. The first 
was hlo. 15 Burr street, and the second Ifo. 10 Lemon 
vStreet/^ 

^‘What!’^ shouted Walgrave, ^^his address? Well, you 
were in luck.^^ ^ ' 

^^^So I thought,"'’ replied Mathew; ^^and I put two and 
two together and came to the conclusion that these ad- 
dresses" had been given to him by the parties interested in 
the stealing of thd child, his employers, and that he had 
dropped the paper.\ Now, did he know what was on it? 
If so, he might remember the addresses and go there, but 
if not, he would hav\ to go elsewhere and communicate 
with his employer, gtill, I did not lose a moment. I 
would risk it. I returned to London and went straight to 
Burr street. It w^as gVding dark. I knocked at No. 15, 
and 0, joy! the old laiy who opened the door in answer 
to my inquiries said, ^x^s, there "s a man here with his 
mother and little boy. What do you want with him?" 
^He "s a friend of mine," Ireplied, ^and I want to see him." 
^Well, you can"t see him, for he "s out, but he "11 soon be 
in; you can go up to histoom if you like, and wait for 
him there." That was ju& what I wanted. She showed 
me the room, and I walkedin and waited for Jerry. You 
know the rest. I mistook mu for J erry, but I was sur- 
prised that he should rush t me ; I had n"t expected him 
to show fight, for that woulAonly make it worse for him- 
self, and he could n"t have esaped with so many people in 
the house."" \ 

^LVnd,"" said Walgrave, was surprised to see him 
rush at me, and was not prepW for it."" 

^^But how did you find at where he lived,"" asked 
Mathew, ^^and happen to come W him the same day that I 


THE AMERIOj-lA.N HEIRESS 


145 

did? — for you have been in ^London for some days past. 
Where did you get the clew/?^^ 

'‘It wasn't I Avho got it J but Jack the shoeblack/’ and 
he related what the reader rf already knows; and how he 
himself had jumped into thk second cab and kept Jerry’s 
in sight, and had kept quit^ close to it in the crowd, never 
removing his eyes from ijt; and when the crowd had 
scattered enough for Jerry’/s cab to move on he had con- 
tinued to follow until th^y reached Whitechapel Eoad, 
"when Jerry’s cabman had got down, I suppose, to ask 
where he was to drive to. And found his cab empty. Yes, 
Jerry had disappeared; hJw he had managed it is beyond 
me. I can swear that I i/ever removed my eyes from the 
cab.” 

"0,” said Mathew, "it was easy enougMo open the door 
just enough to pass through and mix ii/the crowd. He 
must have known that he was being Mowed; but what 
puzzles me is how he managed to leavrfiis room with his 
mother and the child without being notilcd by the landladv 
who lives in the basement and canfee every one who 
either comes or goes.” / 

"I don’t think they went out Mother. Very likely 
he kept the landlady talking in the/'Ck of the house while 
his mother stepped out with the clp-^^ 

"I believe you’re right, for sf seemed to know that 
Jerry was out, since she told go up and wait for 
him. He must have gone openlj 

"Of course he did, and I / ‘understand why the 
landlady was so displeased when^sked to see her lodo-er 
and said if she had known l^as to have so many 
callers she would n’t have let h'nave the room. It was 
you she referred to, and I thoi-' it was Jack.” 

"Yes, yes, that ’s clear ; po(^n<llady ! What a finish ’ 
we gave her! How we did / down those stairs and 
were all mixed up when to the bottom! And 
=what a start you gave me whoP^w that it was not Jerrv 
but you that I had, Mr. 

"The same with me,” sa^/^i’^ve. "And those fools 
of policemen to grab us as I never was so placed 
in all my life, and I am sfe^ir^d that it will be im- 
possible for me to show / ^t any respectable place 


146 


MISS HOGG 


for a week or more, with all the doctoring in the world; 
and it w^as my intention to call on a lady who is, I think, 
the principal in all this affair. How she would rejoice if 
she could see us both.^^ 

^^0, you mean the one with the soda water 

^^Yes and no ; she is mixed up with it, as we have proof, 
but she can^t be the principal, for the one I mean is tall 
and dark.^^ 

^^Tall and dark,^’ repeated Mathew, with a light in 
his black eyes that showed that he had come to some con- 
clusion— have it,^’ he said, eyes flashing brightly. 

‘^^What have you got asked U algrave. 

‘^Well, unless I am very nflch mistaken the dark 
gentleman is really the tall, dalk lady you intended to 
visit.^^ 

Walgrave gave a start; it had never occurred to him 
that Miss Hogg would dare dress as a man, but he felt that 
Mathew was right. Certainly Mathew was getting ahead 
of him. He had never been told about Miss Hogg, and yet 
he was on her track, and had found out more than he him- 
self had, who had been told in confidence of Miss Hogg’s 
threats of revenge. 

believe you are right, Mathew. 0, if I were only 
presentable I would call on her and make short work 
of all this business ; th^ brazen baggage, to dress in men’s 
clothes ! Why, those Americans have no decency ; and in 
a strange country, too.” 

^^Oh, ho,” thought Mathew, ^^it must be that Ameri- 
can heiress whom every one is talking about. Ah, Mr. 
Walgrave, you’ve let the cat out of the bag. 0, if I were 
only fit to be seen; but I am as bad as Walgrave or I 
would steal a march on him. Only think, he has kept all 
this to himself. I ’m glad I gave 5 ^ou the thrashing I did ; 
I ’ll be even with you yet.” But he only said, ^^It is really 
a pity that you can’t see her, and as I ’m as bad as you 
are, if not worse, I can’t offer to call in your name.” 

^‘^N'o, of course not; we must wait; there ’s no help for 
it, and I won’t try to see her before next week; nor will 
you be able to present 3 ^ourself before that time,” he said, 
hypocritically, for he feared that Mathew had it in mind to 
overreach him if be could. 


THE AMERICAN heiress 

“1 think not,” answered Mathew; “I feel very bad, 
and with your permission 1 dl go home and nurse myself 
unless you have more to tell me/^ 

^^No, no/^ replied Walgrave, ^‘1 have nothing more to 
say/^ — And he thought, ^m afraid 1 ^^e already said too 
much. Why did I tell him that the person I suspect is 
an American? It must be that I am not myself to-day; 
my head is like a drum; the fellow has half killed me.^^ 
He added aloud: need rest myself, so you may go 

home, as you proposed and Mathew went. 


14g 


MISS HOGG 


CHAPTEE XXII. 

When Mathew reached home his wife tied a piece of 
raw beefsteak over his nose, and he retired to rest and plan. 
The next day the swelling had gone down, but his face was 
covered with black and blue bruises; it would be madness 
to try to call on anyone; he would not be admitted. He 
did not lose his temper, as Walgrave usually did, but he 
remained cool, and reflected. Surely if there ^s a will 
there must be a way, and the will was not lacking. He 
thought for some time, and then jumping up, he said: 

have it ; yes, I fll do it — though it ^s repugnant to me ; 
there ^s no other way. I canT stay here until my face is 
presentable, so I ’m off this afternoon. I wish I knew 
where that American woman is stopping — whether at a 
hotel or a private lodging house. It would be no use to ask 
Walgrave, for I can see that he means to be the head of 
this affair ; but I fll find out, and from headquarters too. 
I know that Lord Montgomery is in London ; I fll send to 
his club; he must know.""^ 

The same afternoon Lord Montgomery received a note ; 
it was handed to him by the waiter, who said, ^The boy is 
waiting for the answer, my lord.^^ 

^^All right,^^ he replied, and opened the note, which 
simply said, ^^Detective v/ishes to see you at the corner 
to your right.^^ The captain hurried downstairs hoping 
to get news of his cousin; he looked for the boy that the 
waiter had told him about, but not seeing him, he walked 
to his right toward the corner of the street, expecting 
to see Walgrave ; but the man who approached him was not 
Walgrave, nor could he be a detective, for there was no 
mistaking the fact that his face was bruised and one of 
his eyes was bloodshot and the other had a patch over it; 
in fact, he looked like a drunkard ; no makeup could have 
made him what he was, and he must have been pretty well 
knocked about, and that quite recently: but as the man 
seemed determined to speak to him, he said, ^^DonT ask me 
for money; I never give anything to drunkards/^ 


AMERICAI^ SEIRJISS 


14 ^ 


lord, I am Mathew, the detective, and I have been 
nearly murdered in your cause; pretend not to know me 
but give me the address of the young American woman, and 
it will look as if you were giving me a shilling/^ 

^‘1 don^t know it, Mathew, I thought that she had re- 
turned to America/^ 

Mathew felt very much disappointed. He had felt 
sure that Lord Montgomery knew. 

can tell you where she used to stop when she visited 
us, for the major went home with her once,^^ said Lord 
Montgomery. ^^It was at the Temperance Hotel, South- 
ampton Eoad. Her name is Miss Hogg.^^ He gave him 
the address that he had been writing, and as people were 
beginning to look at the strange pair, one of them un- 
doubtedly a gentleman and the other a drunken brute — 
he said, ^‘^l^ow, my man, take my advice, leave off drink- 
and gave him a paper wrapped up in a five pound 

note. 

A policeman stopped and asked, ^^What has this fellow 
done — any charge against him?^^ 

answered Lord Montgomery, sharply, ^The man ^s 
all right and peaceable ; it was I stopped him f and hurry- 
ing to Mathew, he said, ^^Mind you keep your word and 
donT drink any more, my good fellow.^^ 

^^jSTo, sir; thank you, sir,^^ replied Mathew, tugging at 
his old hat and walking away. 

Lord Montgomery returned to his club, thinking: 
^Toor Mathew must have had a terrible encounter with 
ruffians to be in such a state. It is nT all roses with 
those deteetives.^^ 

Mathew waited until nightfall before he risked ap- 
proaching the Temperance Hotel. He had gone to see 
Lord Montgomery in broad daylight for he knew that 
it would be easier to see him then than in the evening^ 
when the club rooms were full ; but to go to Southampton 
Eoad was quite another thing ; he would attract a crowd and 
that he had no wish to do. He was certainly well inade 
up, and his bruises added to his appearance as a confirmed 
drunkard, for he had adorned himself with an extra 
stomach ; still, he thought it best to wait till night, which 
he did. Walking to the cab-stand which is immediately in 
front of the hotel, he entered into conversation with the* 


ISO 


Miss hoOg^ 


cabby, asking him if he knew of a job that he could get. 
The cabby laughed and asked what kind of a job he 
wanted — a drinking job or a fighting job. Several of 
the cabbies had drawn near to see the fun and make low 
jokes on the poor fellow. replied Mathew, want 

a working job, for I mean to reform and I should like to 
go to America.^^ 

He was told that lots of Americans were stopping ^^at 
this hotel,^^ pointing to the one opposite. 

‘^Ts that true 

yes, there be a good many of ^em, but they Te not 
likely to want you.^^ 

‘^AVell, you see I was told there was a rich heiress, 
tall and dark, who did just what she took a fancy to and 
did nT care a snap for the opinion of anyone ; and I mean 
to ask her to take me as her coachman or footman, or 
anything to get away from bad company. If you could 
only point her out to me I would feel obliged.^^ 

‘^^0, I know who he means,^^ said one, ‘^Tut she left the 
hotel weeks ago.^^ 

^^Ho, she has said another, saw her yesterday 
with the prettiest little girl you M wish to see.^^ 

^SShe did go away,’^ said another, ^Tut came back a few 
days ago with her mother and a pert young woman, her 
servant, I believe.^^ 

thought Mathew, who had listened in astonishment 
to this talk, ^fis it possible that Miss Hogg has dared to 
bring the child to the hotel ? She must be mad ! She 
has certainly taken a bad step. I would never have looked 
for the child in this hotel ; I can't believe it.^^ 

^^Well, old fellow,^^ said one cabby, addressing Mathew, 
^^do you mean to go in and ask for this young lady ? I must 
tell you that your looks are not in your favor. Where 
did you get those bruises 

^^Well, you see, my mother, who lives in the country, 
sent me a tenner and I treated some fellows till we could 
hardly stand, and were turned out of the public house. 
As we were going along looking for another one, some of 
the fellows who had seen that I still had a fiver and some 
change, set on me to get it and I fought like the devil : 
hearing a policeman coming they ran away and I crawled 
into a hallway more dead than alive.^^ 


THE AMERICAN- HEIRESS 


151 


^‘0, bosh!^^ said one, ^^you look as if you had a fiver/^ 

^^Iiideed, it 's triie/^ said Mathew, taking the five pound 
note that Lord Montgomery had put into his hand, and 
showing it to the astonished unbelievers. 

All the cabbies became more polite; one of them said, 
‘^^Youdl stand treat, won’t you? There’s a good fellow.” 

would,” returned Mathew, ^^if I had n’t made a vow 
when I was saved from those blackguards that I would 
leave off drinking,” and he replaced the note in his pocket, 
to the great disappointment of most of the cabbies, who 
muttered something about ^‘^mean fellow.” 

One of the cabs was called by a servant from the hotel ; 
the cabby hurriedly turned his cab and brought it to the 
curbstone in front of the hotel ; a tall, young, dark lady 
came down the steps followed by a short, young woman, 
dark also, who seemed to be the servant of the tall one. 
They got into the cab and drove away. Mathew had 
slipped off, and when the cabman turned round to tell 
him that that was the American lady he had been inquir- 
ing about, he was nowhere to be seen. 

^^Well, did you ever see such a fellow?” one remarked. 
^^He must have run away; he didn’t have the pluck to 
ask her.” 

^^Well, no wonder,” said another, ^Vith a face like he ’s 
got; he’d be apt to be arrested. But where did he go 
to?” 

can’t tell; I was looking at the lady,” another re- 
plied. 

When Mathew saw Miss Hogg on the steps of the hotel 
and about to enter a cab, he made up his mind to follow 
her; so he watched for an opportunity to slip away unseen 
by his new friends. They all seemed busy looking at 
her. Mathew looked to see if he could turn a corner; 
but no, there was no corner nearer than Eussell Square, 
and that was on the other side of the street from where he 
was standing, in fact on the same side as the hotel, and in 
full view of all the cabbies; so he popped behind one of 
the cabs a few yards from where the owner was standing, 
and as an omnibus passed he jumped in. It was going the 
same way as Miss Hogg’s cab, which he could still see; 
presently it stopped near a pastry shop and the stout 
joung woman got down; so did Mathew, As soon as he 


152 


MISS HOGG 


had seen the cab stop he had jumped down, to the relief of 
some in the omnibus, who had looked upon him with 
disgust, though he had been well behaved. He approached 
the shop in a loafing way, as if he were hungry for some 
of the display in the window. He had seen Katy, for it 
was really she, buy some pastry and then return to the 
cab. Mathew could not very v/ell hang behind, so he 
made a sign to a cabby — for they were near another stand 
— and putting five shillings into his hand, said, ^Tollow 
that cab and don’t lose sight of it.” 

^^All right, sir.” 

And so Mathew was on Miss Hogg’s track for good. 
She was going to see Lady Florence, and the pastry that 
Katy had bought was for her. 

Poor Miss Hogg! After all the trouble she had gone 
through, was she going to be so easily caught, or would she 
he cute enough to suspect that she might be followed? 
She had gone out very openly to be going to visit a person 
whom she was taking so much trouble to hide. Did she 
think herself so secure that there was no danger of being 
suspected? No; while Katy was buying the cakes she 
had noticed the supposed loafer who, to her cute eyes, had 
a sort of respectability about him not generally seen in 
an abandoned drunkard ; and she sav/ that his eyes seemed 
to be looking at Katy more than at the eatables. She 
watched him and thought: ^^His make-up is perfect; how 
bruised his face looks; it seems quite real.” The gaslight 
was shining right in his face and she could see him as 
plainly as in bright daylight, as she sat far back in a 
corner of the cab where he could not have seen her if he 
had been so disposed ; but he felt so secure in his disguise 
that it never entered his head that he could be suspected 
by Miss Hogg, who had never seen him before. He forgot 
that a guilty conscience is always on the alert and ready 
to suspect every one. As Katy came out Miss Hogg saw 
this man move away, and putting her head out of the 
window, the one furthest from the shop, she saw a cab ap- 
proach the man and she knew she was followed by a 
detective. As Katy gave her the cakes she whispered : ^^We 
are followed; tell the cabman to drive to Drury Lane 
Theater.” 

Katy did so, and laughed merrily as she sat back in 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


153 


the cab, and said : ^^Surely these cakes must have a special 
merit for us to come so far out of our way to buy them 
and then go back to the theater just for the pleasure of 
eating them there. 0, it ^s a good joke 

^^Do you know, Katy, I ought to have been born a man. 
I love adventure, and nothing pleases me better than 
to mislead those detectives. Even if there is danger 
there ’s also a great deal of fun, I guess. Did you notice 
that fellow at the shop window watching you? He had a 
good make-up of bruises.^^ 

^^0, but they were real bruises; I would swear to it,^^ 
replied Katy. 

^^Konsense, he ’s the man who is following us.^^ 

Hs that so ? What do you propose to do ? You are not 
going to the theater 

^^0, but we are ; and when this fellow has seen us go in 
he will make sure that we are settled for the evening. 
Then we can slip out and go and eat our cakes elsewhere 
and she laughed heartily. ^^But here we are,^^ as the cab 
stopped at the door of the theater. ^^Mind you donT look 
round for the man or you will spoil all; go right into 
the ticket office and leave me to act.^^ 

Katy obeyed. Miss Hogg alighted and walked to the 
door of the theater, but before the cabman could turn round 
she looked back and called out in a loud American voice, 
say, cabby, mind you be here at eleven o’clock, not 
a minute later; or, I guess you won’t see much of my 
money.” 

^^Yes, mum,” he answered and drove off. 

Miss Hogg had made this long speech to give herself 
time to see if the detective was near. Yes, she had seen 
him on the point of alighting, but as she had turned from 
the door to speak to her cabman he had sat back in a 
hurry. Kow that she was sure, she went in and joined 
Katy, and purchased two tickets for the boxes, for they 
were not dressed for the dress circle. ^‘^N’ow,” said Miss 
Hogg, as she sat on the back seat, ^^You sit in front so that 
he can see you should he follow us into the house. He 
will have to go in the pit, and from where I am sitting it 
will not be easy for him to see me ; still, he ’ll manage 
it ; and when he has made sure that I am really there he ’ll 


MISS HOGG 


154 

not trouble to look again as long as he sees you there, and 
I shall be able to slip out and go where I intended ioJ’ 
^^All right, Mamie, and 1 11 stay here and have this 
bruised faced gentleman escort me back to the hotel. How 
blank hell look when he sees only poor me getting out 
of the cabT’ 

^^Wait, wait, Katy, we ^re not through yet/^ 

see him,^^ said Katy without turning round ; ^lie 
in the pit and looking up to every box, though he can see 
me very well ; he ^s a cute fellow, but he looking uneasy ; 
he misses you and he ^s trying to look in our box. Donl 
look, Mamie, he ^s going to stand on a seat.^^ 

Miss Hogg took the paper bag and pretended to be 
eating with great appetite. Mathew saw her and was satis- 
fied; he looked from one box to the other as if looking 
for some one, just as an usher was coming to him to tell 
him to sit down. 

The play began. The house was full, the play 
good; but Mathew saw very little of it; he kept turning 
round and was pleased to see Katy’s laughing face. She 
seemed to be thoroughly enjoying herself. At last, to 
Mathew'S great relief, the play was over. Still, Katy re- 
mained in her seat until almost every one had left. At 
last he saw her get up to leave ; he hurried out and arrived 
just in time to see her disappear in her cab, and he 
naturally thought that her mistress had got in first. He 
jumped into his own cab and followed; but as he thought, 
have gained nothing to-night for I know that they are 
going back to the hotm,^^ he still kept an eye to the cab; 
it stopped, as he had expected, at the hotel; but, to his 
great disappointment, only Katy got out. Was Miss Hogg 
going alone somewhere else? He must watch. But no. 
Katy began to joke with the cabman, who seemed fiattered 
and pleased and answered her in her own style, which he 
would never have done had the mistress been in his cab. 

Poor Mathew’s heart beat fast. What a disappoint- 
ment! She had taken him in, and he saw at once that 
Katy’s joking ivith her cabman was more to give her the 
opportunity to watch him and enjoy his defeat than the 
pleasure she could derive from the few words of flattery 
she received from him. Mathew no longer hid himself but 
stood there looking the very picture of disappointment 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS ,155 

and astonishment. Miss Hogg must have known him, and 
yet he was sure that he had never seen her before. As 
he stood there very near the hotel door it opened and a 
tall, dark young lady appeared on the threshold and called 
out, ^^Katy, are you going to stay out all night It 
was Miss Hogg. She had returned from her visit to Lady 
Florence. 

Poor Mathew ! He had seen enough for one night ; he 
came to the conclusion that he had to deal with a clever 
woman, and that it would be hard work to prove that she 
had taken the child. He went home very sore and tired. He 
had not, however, quite lost his time, for now he knew Miss 
Hogg and her servant, and he promised himself that the 
next time she would not slip so easily through his fingers 
as she had done that night. He would keep all this to him- 
self and not give Walgrave a chance to laugh at him. 


156 


MISS HOGG 


CHAPTEE XXIII. 

When Jerry had given Jack the slip he said to him- 
self: must make a move; this place is getting too hot 

for me ; I wish my mother had not lost a day resting.^^ 
When he got home he told his mother everything. She 
replied: ^^Well, Jerry, that is certainly bad news, but as 
the boy lost sight of you near London Dock it will take 
him some time to find you out here unless you show 
yourself, so let us keep close in the house until to-morrow 
night ; then we will slip out quietly, the child and I going 
one way, and you another. I fil go straight to that small 
room you told me of and where you have left my parcel. 
I fil dress the child in the clothes Miss Hogg gave me, 
and myself in my new clothes, with my red wig, and as soon 
as you have made a change in your appearance see about 
taking the rooms near the Strand that you saw to-day; 
then you come to our room; or it might be well to give 
a whistle outside and I fil come out to you with the child 
and my bundle of old clothes, for nothing must be left 
behind. As you have paid a week in advance the landlady 
will not be on the watch, not so soon after our arrival, at 
least; and if I should meet her as we leave the house 
I fil saj that I Ve been calling on her new tenant, for she 
would not recognize me as the poor woman who had come 
in with a poorly dressed little boy some hours before.^^ 
^^Yes, that will do,^^ replied her son; ^fif we can only 
get away from this place without being followed. I ^m 
on pins and needles. Every knock I hear makes my 
heart beat. I wish we could go to-night, mother.’^ 

^^Xo, my son, that would never do; it is too late; we 
would be suspected if we went to our lodgings in the middle 
of the night, and we might meet that boy and others that 
are on our track. Xo, Jerry, we must wait.^^ And they 
retired. 

The next day Jerry could hardly be kept in the house. 
He remarked that he felt like a rat caught in a trap. 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 157 

^‘^Keep quiet, Jerry, and watch for suspicious looking 
people,'^ said his mother. 

He did watch, but no one came to the door except the 
milkman, butcher, baker, and other tradesmen. Darkness 
was coming on and he felt relieved; he prepared to go. 
Mrs. Jerry had everything ready. Jerry was going down- 
stairs to see if the coast was clear for his mother and 
the child to leave unseen when he heard a rap at the front 
door. He waited to see who it was before going down 
and hid in the turning on the stairs. The little servant 
ran up from the basement, opened the door, and to Jerry’s 
dismay he heard the boy asking for him and the little girl 
olfering to show him up, but, to his great relief, he heard 
him refuse. Jerry had already planned what to do should 
the boy come up; he would gag him and tie him to the 
bedstead and decamp with his mother and the child if 
the boy was alone ; but it was not likely that he would 
come alone to Jerry’s room; he could not have decoyed 
him; he was too sharp a fellow to listen to any tales the 
boy might invent ; it would only have put him on his guard. 
Ho, some one must be with him, and Jerry and his 
mother were caught. He might yet fight his way out, 
but he would have to leave his mother and he could never 
do that. All these thoughts passed through his mind in 
less than a minute, and his relief was great as he heard 
the boy refuse to come up or even to have him told that 
he had been there. 

^^Ah, my fine fellow, so you are coming to-morrow, 
eh, to see your uncle, you young scoundrel ! I know you 
and how you followed me last night, and how you have 
managed to get here is beyond me ; and now that you have 
made sure of me you are going back to report your success 
and pilot half a dozen detectives here in no time. But wait, 
my young spark, when you come back you ’ll find the nest 
empty ; the birds will have fiown away and you will have to 
begin your work over again. I wish you were a rabbit. I ’d 
make short work of you, my lad.” And as Jerry heard 
the door close he ran back to his mother and told her what 
he had heard. 

^^How quick, mother, take the child and go down; 
stajy* on the first landing till you hear me talking to the 


158 


MISS HOGG 


landlady in the yard ; I ^11 entice her out there till you h'C 
gone/^ 

^^Yes, Jerry, but what about the girl? She'll see 
me and report to her mistress/" 

^^iSTot she,"" replied Jerry; ^‘^she "11 he behind the door 
listening to what I "m saying to her mistress ; she always 
does it ; I "ve caught her often doing it when one of the 
captains was talking to Mrs. Chaney/" 

^^All right then, let"s go down."" 

Jerry went first as agreed, and was soon heard talking 
to Mrs. Chaney at the door of her back kitchen, telling 
her that he was going out but would scon be back and 
if anyone happened to ask for him to let them go up to his 
room and wait there with his mother. 

hope you "re. not going to have many callers, Mr. 
Smith"" — for that was the name she knew him by. 

^^0, no, mum ; it "s only my nephew, and he won’t come 
again after this once,"" and knowing that his mother 
and the child were some distance off by this time, he left 
his landlady with a pleasant good night, little knowing 
what a fearful night she was doomed to pass, all through 
him and his visitors. He returned to the hallway for the 
parcel that he had left there and left the house openly; 
still, his heart beat fast, for he knew the risk he was 
running should the boy have had the forethought of leaving 
some one on the watch, and he seemed cunning enough 
to have done it. If he had, his mother had been arrested 
and he would be; every footstep he heard made his blood 
run cold. He had to go some distance to find a barber to 
change his appearance; his beard was long and thick, he 
would get rid of it and only keep his mustache ; but as the 
barber might possibly be questioned he thought it best to 
rid himself of his beard with his own hand. Having passed 
the Mint he went into a lane leading to American Square. 
The lane was at the back of the houses forming the square, 
and few passed that way except the ashmen to collect 
the ashes that stood in barrels at the back doors. He 
made his way to the darkest spot near Mr. Samson’s back 
door, and taking a pair of scissors from his pocket he 
began to cut his beard, as evenly as it was possible to do 
it in the darkness, and as close to his face as he dared to, 
throwing the hair into the ash barrel. Pulling his hat 


Tiili AMI^RICAN HEIRESS 


159 


well over his face, he walked out of the lane and con- 
tinued his way toward the mineries. Entering a barber’s 
shop next door to a newsdealer’s, he asked to have his beard 
shaved off. 

The barber looked at him and said, ^‘Shall I trim it 
or shave it off?” 

have no choice in the matter,” replied J erry ; ’ve 
found a place as steward on a ship, and the captain says 
it don’t look clean to have a beard, so as I can’t afford to 
lose the place I must shave ; but how I ’m going to manage 
to shave every morning to please the captain is beyond me ; 
it will be a devil of a job; but make haste, for I have to 
be on board by eight o’clock;” and so saying, he threw 
his bundle on the floor. 

^^That ’s your clothes ?” remarked the barber. 

^^Yes, it is, and precious little I have, as you see, so I 
don’t mind parting with my beard. A fellow must 
eat.” 

^^Certainly, certainly ;” and the barber shaved him 
quickly, leaving a thick mustache. 

Jerry was certainly very much improved and so changed 
that his own mother would n’t have known him. He then 
went to a tailor shop and ordered his livery, carrying it 
with him, for he did n’t dare ask to be allowed to put it 
on there. He wondered where he could go. It would 
never do to go to a restaurant and ask for a room to change 
his clothes in; it would look strange and be talked and 
wondered about that he should come there to put on his 
livery. Why could n’t he have gone to his new employer’s 
house? Ho, it would never do. But where could he go? 
He could n’t change it in the street. He was nonplused. 

At that moment a cab passed and a thought struck him 
like lightning; he hailed the cabb}q who looked hard at him 
and asked him what he wanted. 

^^0, I want to go to Whitechapel Eoad.’^ 

^^Wha^ part?” 

^^0, 1 ’ll stop you when I want to get down ; I forget the 
number, but it’s a good way up; w’hat’ll you charge?” 

^^How do I know when I don’t know where you want to 
go? but I’d like some ’at in advance.” 

^^Well,” said Jerry, ^^here ’s five shillings, and you can 
give me the change when you set me down. Don’t drive 


160 


MISS Moaa 


too fast as 1 not acquainted enough in Whitechapel 
Koad to see iny way clear, especially at night/^ 

^‘^All right, jump in,^^ the cabby replied, and pocketing 
the five shillings, he leaped to his box. 

Jerry began operations at once, and in a short time 
he had his livery on and had bundled up his own clothes 
with the parcel he had brought from his lodging, and was 
now on the lookout for a chance of leaving the cab unseen 
by its owner. He could have jumped down at any moment, 
for they were not going fast, but that would be running 
the risk of being seen, so he waited until they got into 
a crowd of cabs and wagons and then he opened the 
door, slipped out and closed it; he then turned back, 
hired another cab and was driven to the respectable 
lodgings he had noticed near the Strand. Leaving his 
parcel in the cab he ran up the steps of the lodging house, 
engaged the rooms, as instructed to do by Miss Hogg, 
and paying a week in advance, he returned to the cab for 
his paper parcel and carried it into his new lodgings. 
Locking the door, he put the key in his pocket and asked 
for a latchkey, as he expected the nurse and young lady to 
arrive by the last train that night and they would be able 
to get in without disturbing anyone in the house. The 
landlady gave him a key and thought, ^This servant must 
belong to some rich family,^^ and was glad to have secured 
a tenant who paid so liberally and was so considerate as 
to wish not to disturb the other inmates of the house. 
J erry, having secured his key, left the house ; he dismissed 
his cab, and hailing another a little further on, rode near 
to his mother’s room, where he expected to find her. 
He had done his part well and it remained to be seen how 
his mother had done hers. 

Hear Fleet street he stopped the cab*, and, getting out, 
dismissed it and kept on his way until the cab disappeared ; 
then he retraced his steps and turned into Fleet street, 
whistling. Soon a door opened and a respectable looking 
woman appeared, holding a child by the hand, and, with- 
out seeming to notice him, followed him for some distance. 
Then the man, having stopped a cab, made a sign to the 
woman and they all got in. 

^^Yhere to?” asked the cabman. 

^^London Station.” And off they went towards London 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS ICl 

Bridge. When near the station Jerry stopped the cab, 
saying, ^11 get down here and have supper. 

^^Shall I wait ?” asked cabby. 

answered Jerry, ^^it ^s only a step to the station;^’ 
and cabby drove away. 

But the Jerrys did not go in for supper; they stood 
in the darkest place near the station gate and Jerry watched 
for an empty cab. The train had just come in and many 
cabs passed them, but not empty. At last an empty one 
appeared and Jerry called it to take them to their lodgings. 
The cabman thought they had just arrived by train, but 
that, being strangers, they had not known where to get a 
cab while in the station. So they arrived safely at their 
new home. The cab was dismissed a few doors away so as 
to leave no clew behind. Jerry opened the door with his 
latchkey and they w’ent upstairs. 

The rooms were very handsomely furnished and Lady 
Florence began to feel at home in them. Jerry was to 
occupy a room in the rear, and the mother a small one next 
to Lady Florence. The sitting room was a front room 
with balcony, holding pots of flowers very tastefully ar- 
ranged. It being very late, they all retired to rest. Lady 
Florence being told that her aunt would soon come to see 
her now, and being only a child she believed what was 
told her, especially as every one was so kind to her; and 
now that she was well dressed again, she felt comfortable 
and went peacefully to sleep with her doll in her arms. 

As for Mrs. Jerry, she felt happier than she had felt 
for years to And herself in such a comfortable home. It 
reminded her of the time when she was Lady Montgomery's 
maid, before she had married Jerry senior, who had 
brought her into poverty and disgrace with her former 
mistress, by poaching, as her son was doing when we flrst 
made his acquaintance; so the poor widow had known 
trouble. All these thoughts came to her that night, every 
event of her life passing through her mind like a panorama. 
Yes, she could see the past, but the future, what was that 
going to be ? But hope is strong in almost all of us ; so she 
pictured to herself a life of ease in taking care of the young 
lady, and she fell asleep making castles in the air, seeing 
her son reformed and married to some honest girl and 
perhaps owning a flne farm, she and the wife attending to 


162 


Miss SOGa 


the housework and nursing the little children while Jerry 
worked on the farm and sent the products to market. 

Hope is a great blessing given to us by God to soften 
our present grief and give us courage to go on to the end of 
our career. 

The next morning Miss Hogg received a note to the 
effect that some one wished to speak to her in Eussell 
Square at ten o^ clock a. m. ISTo name or address was given, 
but she knew well that it was from Jerry, and at ten 
0 clock she was at the appointed place. Jerry, in his 
new livery, was waiting for her; she hardly knew him; 
he certainly was a fine looking footman; he touched his 
hat, gave her a note, and passed on. 


THE AMEFJCAN HEIRESS 


163 


CHAPTEE XXIV. 

It was the new address that Jerry had given Miss 
Hogg, not daring to send it to the hotel. Miss Hogg 
had looked at it and returned to the hotel to tell Katy and 
make arrangements to go that evening to see the child. 
We have seen how she was followed and how she eluded 
Mathew, visited Lady Florence, was back again at her 
hotel before the play was over, and had the pleasure of see- 
ing the poor detective’s look of amazement as he saw only 
Katy get out of the cab. She was so overjoyed that she 
could not help showing herself on the doorstep as a defiance 
and challenge to Mathew to try his wits against hers. 
^^0, my fine fellow,” she thought, ^^you look very blank, 
but this is nothing to what ’s coming,” and calling to 
Katy more to attract his attention than because she wanted 
her, she went inside, and they both retired well pleased 
with their evening’s work. 

The next day Miss Hogg prevailed on her mother to 
order a carriage and go for a ride in Eegent Park. Isabelle 
de Courtney was beautifully dressed and wore a broad- 
brimmed hat which shaded her face without hiding it. 
Mrs. Hogg was very proud of her, made a great deal of 
the little beauty, and was very much pleased, though a 
little surprised, to see that her daughter made so much of 
her. 

Miss Hogg was very much dressed, though not in good 
taste, and her bold black eyes seemed to say, ^^Find fault 
with me if you dare.” Mrs. Hogg was more quietly 
dressed. They attracted their share of attention in Eotten 
Eow. ]\Iiss Hogg looked about her with a defiant look ; not 
being a lady, she wished to be taken for some grand person- 
age, and she thought that if she looked boldly at every 
equipage that passed she would be supposed to be somebody 
of consequence. Instead of that, however, she often heard 
the remark from some gentleman — for the ladies did not 
seem to notice her — that they were Americans, ^^but what 
a little beauty, by J ove ! she must be English/^ 


164 


MISS HOGG 


This was not very flattering to Miss Hogg’s vanity; 
stilly she was pleased that the child attracted attention, 
for that had been her motive in going to the park — a part 
of her plan, in fact. 

On leaving the hotel she had noticed an old gentleman 
seemingly on the point of entering it. She would not 
have given him a second thought but for the start he gave 
when his eyes fell on Isabelle, whom she then held by the 
hand. As the carriage rolled away she had looked back and 
had seen him on the steps looking after them, and Katy 
standing at his elbow. ^^Well,” thought Miss Hogg, ^Vho- 
ever he may be he ’s in good hands ; he must be a detective, 
but it can’t be the one of yesterday ; he is much thinner ; but 
what a fool I must be ! Of course he was made up, just 
as this one is, with his long white beard and blue spectacles. 
One would take him for a professor of about sixty, and 
most probably he ’s quite a young man. They are really 
hot after me. If this continues we shall have to leave 
England soon, but I must tease the detectives a little more. 
At any rate I ’ll go through my program, or what ’s the 
use of Isabelle, though she’s a dear child;” and she 
looked admiringly at her. 

The child smiled, and taking her hand, said, ^^0, I 
feel so happy with you and dear mamma,” looking lovingly 
at Mrs. Hogg. 

The carriage had stopped and the major and several 
other gentlemen came up to talk to Miss Hogg. They were 
on foot. Miss Hogg joked with them and said she was very 
sorry that her carriage was not as big as an omnibus or 
she would invite them all to get in, but, as it was, she 
was afraid to invite one or two for fear of making the 
others jealous, and she laughed aloud, tapping the major 
on the shoulder with her parasol, for he was the boldest, 
and he said that he ought to have the preference as he had 
not forgotten the pleasant ride he had had with her some 
time ago. 

^^All the more reason why you should be the last,” 
said one of his friends ; ^Take me. Miss Hogg, and I promise 
to behave like -an angel; with Mrs. Hog^s permission, 
of course;” bowing to her. 

Mrs. Hogg blushed and hardly knew what to say. 


THE AMEraCAN HEIRESS 


165 


She murmured something to the effect that they had come 
for a quiet ride, not expecting to meet any friends. 

Little Isabelle, young as she was, and unaccustomed 
to the ways of the world, seemed to feel that these gentle- 
men were not paying them due respect. She looked at 
them calmly, yet haughtily, and turned her head away. 
The gentleman who was talking to Miss Hogg noticed 
the look and action and thought, ^^This child has good 
blood, whatever she may be to the Hoggs,^^ and he felt 
rebuked by her look of indignation. 

^^Well, Miss Hogg, since you will not take pity on any 
of us, we shdll leave you to enjoy your ride and we will trot 
along the best we can;^^ and raising their hats, they left 
Miss Hogg to finish her ride, to the great relief of her 
mother and of Isabelle, who said : 

don’t like those gentlemen, sister Mamie; they 
might have waited till you asked them, and not proposed to 
ride with us, and I really don’t think they meant it.” 

^^Yell,” replied Mamie, ^^you’re a wise little lady; 
perhaps you ’re right ;” and a bhish of humiliation came 
over her face as she thought, ^They were only laughing at 
me, and I was so vain that while talking to them I did n’t 
know it, and Isabelle saw it all the time. 0, she must be 
a real lady herself, or how could she have felt the insult 
when I did not;” and tears of vexation came to her eyes. 

Mrs. Hogg looked at her daughter, who seemed so quiet, 
and said, ^^Did you notice while you were talking to those 
officers, an old gentleman ? He came quite close to us and 
looked at Isabelle so hard that I was afraid he was going 
to claim her, and 0, Mamie, I can’t part with her now, 
it would break my heart.” 

^^Don’t fret, dear mamma,” said Isabelle, will never 
leave you; no, not even if my own parents were to claim 
me; they abandoned me for so long they couldn’t have 
cared for me ; and now that I ’m happy, and you have made 
me so, I will not go with them.” 

Mrs. Hogg, with tears in her eyes, kissed her affection- 
ately, saying, ^^That ’s right, my darling, my little queen.” 

^^Do you mean the old man with blue spectacles?” 
Mamie had asked her mother, for, though she had not 
noticed him, she guessed that it must be he. 

^^Yes, Mamie; so you saw him; and yet you were so 


166 


MISS HOGG 


busy joking with those young officers that I did n’t think 
you did ; you are certainly cute, Mamie ; what do you make 
of him?” 

^^Well, I really don’t know, unless he ’s a teacher of 
music or dancing, and seeing that we are strangers, he 
intends to ask you for a pupil.” 

^Terhaps you’re right, still, he didn’t say a word to 
me ; he simply stared at Isabelle as if he wished to remem- 
ber her for some purpose; he didn’t look at me.” 

^^0, well, never mind; let the old fellow go to Jericho. 
I wish I ’d seen him staring at Isabelle ; I would have 
asked him his business in a jilfy, and I guess he would n’t 
have stayed long, the old porpoise !” 

^^But, my dear,” interposed Mrs. Hogg, ^ffio you know 
him ? — and you talk so loud that the coachman is listening, 
and people look at us as they go by.” 

‘^^Well, ma, I ’m furious this morning.” 

^^You were all right when we left the hotel.” 

‘^^Yes, ma, but Isabelle has opened my eyes about these 
young fellows. To think that they were laughing at me, 
0, my heart ! and me not know it ! Well, I should smile ! 
What a fool I am, and I bragged of my cleverness! 0, 
Mamie Hogg, why were you not born a lady ?” 

^^Come, Mamie,” said her mother with some dignity, 
^^you seem to forget that I ’m your mother, and though 
I ’m not a grand lady, my people were and are respectable, 
though, as your father says, they may not be cute, but they 
are honest.” 

H am sorry I spoke so roughly, ma; you are always 
so good to me. Shall we go back to the hotel ?” 

‘^^Yes, I think we had better; I am getting hungry, and 
Isabelle must feel as if she could eat her dinner, eh, 
my dear?” patting the child’s head. 

^^Yes, mamma, and I suppose Mamie too; that makes 
her so cross.” 

^^Well, you little witch,” said Miss Hogg, laughing, 
having regained her usual good humor, guess those 
blue eyes of yours see everything.” 

The carriage was ordered back to the hotel and dinner 
was served in a private room, to the great surprise of Mrs. 
Hogg, who preferred to eat at the table d'hote, where she 
could converse with her American friends ; but Katy ex- 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


167 


plained that a lot of strange people had arrived during 
their absence and that she had thought it best to order the 
dinner in a private room until her mistress could see for 
herself if she cared to meet them. ^^That was very con- 
siderate of you, Katy, and very wise/^ said Mrs. Hogg, 
quite satisfied with the explanation. But Miss Hogg looked 
inquiringly at Katy, and the latter made her a sign which 
meant, ^^You Ye right, there Y something up.^^ 

After dinner Miss Hogg hurried to her room, where 
she knew that Katy was awaiting her, and, after locking 
the door, asked, ^AVhat has happened — anything about 
the detective 

^‘^Yes, miss, not the one of yesterday, but the one 
that questioned me about a. runaway carriage in the Eed 
Lion Hotel, and approved of the soda water for my hus- 
band ; he Y well disguised but I know his voiee.^^ 

^^Did he know you?’^ 

think not, for I tried to speak in a different voice, 
and looked as sedate as a nun.^^ 

^^Did he speak to you?^^ 

^^Sure, he did; I was standing just behind him w^hen 
you rode away, and seeing that he watched the carriage 
as long as it was in view, I suspected him and stayed on 
the steps till he turned round to come in; and making 
him a curtsy, as if I was waiting for him to address me, 
he looked hard at me, but I looked down modestly. He 
said, ^Are you a servant from the hotel ^Yes, sir,^ I 
answered him in a low voice, which was not all feigned, for 
I felt my knees trembling. I had recognized Detective Wal- 
grave, and I feared that he had discovered everything and 
had come to arrest us; but, instead of that, he asked me 
who wore the ladies who had just gone out in a carriage. 

^They are Americans, I believe,^ I answered. ^And 
who is the fair little girl with them ? I fil swear that she Y 
English.^ SShe Y a relation of Miss Hogg, I Ye heard.^ 
‘Ah, ha ! a relation indeed ! she donY look like them. Do 
they dine at the table df hote or en famillef I diduY 
understand what he meant, but I said, ^at the table df hote/ 
‘Well, my girl, show me the way to the parlor; I ^m going to 
stay here some time ; see that a room is prepared for me.^ 
‘Yes, sir.^ And I left him in the parlor, and went to 
tell Miss Kelly that I had brought her a eustomer.^^ 


168 


MISS HOaa 


^^And where is he now?” asked Miss Hogg. 

“"At the dinner table yet; waiting to see you and the 
child. That is the reason that I ordered dinner upstairs 
— to give you time to think what to do, and keep him in 
suspense for a while, for he is sure that the child is Lady 
Florence.” 

^^You have acted quite cleverly, Katy; we must hide 
the child as much as possible for some time yet ; he ^s sure 
to force his way% somehow, and when he does how blank 
he ^11 look! 0, my heart! I must manage to be there. 
I would nT miss it for the world. And poor ma is as 
innocent as a lamb. How indignant she will be! And 
she wonT tell who the child is, which will make him feel 
sure that he right ; and you ^11 see me coming down on 
him hot, and sending him to the right-about-face in a 
jiify. How well he has taken the bait ! Well, I should 
smile ! Mind that 5 ''ou watch him and let me know all 
his movements, and keep quiet or he ^11 soon find you 
out if you begin to laugh and caper with the men serv- 
ants.^^ 

could nT do that, Mamie ; I ^m too much afraid ; he ^s 
too near for me to laugh. I ^11 tell the male servants 
that I ^m very ill if they tease me ; that will account for 
my sedate behavior.” 

^^That ’s right. He did nT know you, did he — I mean 
are you sure he did nT ?” 

^^0, yes, I ^m quite sure. 0, if he only knew that it 
was me who played him that trick!” and she laughed 
merrily, forgetting her fears for the time being. ^^You 
must try and have a look at him, Mamie; he has a long 
gray beard, and blue spectacles.” 

^^0, I \e seen him already.” 

^W^here have you seen him?” 

^^On the doorstep as we drove away, and again in the 
park — at least ma did.” 

^Tn the park,” repeated Katy ; ^Then he must have left 
the hotel almost as soon as I had shown him into the 
parlor ; he ^s awfully slippery ; and, mark my word, he ’ll 
be sure to make trouble, for us yet.” 

^^Ko, he won’t, and you need not be so frightened for 
everything is going as we wished. When he has seen Isa- 
belle he will not be in such a hurry to run us down again.” 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 169 

^^Then why not let him see her at once and be done 
with him/^ said Katy. 

^^0 my heart ! is that yon talking, Katy ? Don’t you 
see that if he happened to meet us when we have the real 
Lady Florence with us we would have to make a run for it, 
and he would think it very strange if we had been so ready 
to let him see the supposed one ? He would put tw^o and 
two together and suspect the truth in a jiffy. Ko, let’s 
wait and see what he means to do. Don’t let the child 
go downstairs ; watch him, and if he should ask for 
an interview with ma let me know if I’m in ; if I ’m 
not in tell ma that that strange looking old gentleman 
wishes to see her about the child, and that you had better 
take her upstairs for fear of his taking her away. She will 
be so frightened that she will consent at once. Then you 
take the child to my room and lock her in. Of course 
you must tell her why you are doing it. Don’t frighten her. 
Then you introduce the detective to ma, and while he’s 
busy talking to her you walk out with Isabelle, go back 
to Eichmond, and wait there till you hear from us. How 
I ’m going to ma,and prepare her a little or the shock might 
hurt her.” 

Miss Hogg returned to her mother and told her that 
she had seen the same old gentleman they had seen in the 
park, that he was staying at the same hotel, and that he 
had been questioning Katy about Isabelle. Mrs. Hogg 
flushed up and looked greatly troubled, saying, ^^Well, 
she ’s mine, and no one has a right to take her away.” 

^^Certainly not, ma, and you are not to fret ; he can’t do 
anything; still, it might be as well to hide Isabelle for a 
time till we see what his intentions are ; don’t you think so, 
ma ?” 

^^Yes, my dear, it will be best.” 

^Well, if he should ask to see you, before you let him 
in, ring for Katy, and let her take Isabelle away to Kich- 
mond for a ftw days; and if he should question you, 
will you tell him where you got her?” 

^^ISTo, certainly not; I shall never humiliate that sweet, 
child ; he can have no right to ask.” 

^Ton ’re quite right, ma, just give it to him hot.” 


170 


HISS HOGG 


CHAPTER XXY. 

At that moment Katj rushed in, and, taking the child 
in her arms, rushed out again, saying, ^^That old crank 
is coming up/^ And, in fact, she met him face to face at 
the door ; she tried to pass him ; he stood in her way, saying, 

why take the pretty little girl out of the room ? I have 
nothing to say to Mrs. Hogg that she may not hear;^^ 
and he tried to see the child^s face ; but poor Isabelle, who 
feared being taken away, clung to Katy and hid her face 
on her breast. 

Miss Hogg came to the rescue by advancing to the 
door and saying, ^‘^Well, sir, here^s my mother; if you 
have any business with her come in, and donT interfere with 
my sister,^^ gave Katy a push to get her out. Walgrave did 
not dare to oppose her until he was sure that the child was 
really Lady Florence. He walked in, and his suspicion 
became certainty as he saw poor Mrs. Hogg flushed and 
trembling, unable to utter a word. 

Miss Hogg went over to her and said, ^^Why, ma, what ^s 
the matter with you? Do you know the gentleman? 
If not, why donT you tell him that you wonT be bothered 
with him 

^^Xo, my dear, I donT know him, and I will hear what 
he has to say; but stay with me, Mamie.^^ 

^^Of course, ma, I fll stay as long as you wish, and 
if you fll let me I fll talk to this gentleman, instead of 
you.^^ 

^^Xo, young lady, my business is with your mother,’^ 
said the detective, fearing that Miss Hogg would manage 
to lead him astray with some of her clever tricks. He 
was making a great mistake again, for had he discussed 
the matter in hand with Miss Hogg, she might, through 
mistake or excitement, have let drop some words that would 
have thrown light on the disappearance of Lady Florence ; 
while Mrs. Flogg, who vias in total ignorance of the 
affair, would lead him astray more than her daughter could 
have done with all her cleverness. 


Tlit AMERICAN heiress 


171 


Walgrave was surprised to see that Miss Hogg did not 
try to leave the room, and that she had allowed Lady 
Florence, if it was she, to be taken in charge by the hotel 
servant, as he thought Katy to be; for with all his brag 
that he would bet his head that he would know her again, 
he had failed to do so. This pretty maid, with deep, quiet 
blue eyes and black hair, could not be recognized as the 
sprightly young wife with blue eyes and reddish hair 
who had deceived him at the Eed Lion Hotel. 

Mrs. Hogg, reassured by her daughters presence, said, 
more calmly than could have been expected from her 
appearance, ^^Sir, if you have any business with me will 
you kindly explain it, for I am at a loss to understand 
it, as you are a total stranger to me.^^ 

know that I am, and yet my presence seems to 
trouble you as if you partly guessed what I have come for. 
Well, madam, I may as well tell you at once that I am a 
detective employed by Lady Montgomery to search and 
find out what has become of her niece, Lady Florence, 
who disappeared some time ago, and whom I traced here to 
the hotel.^^ 

But if Mr. Walgrave expected Mrs. Hogg to give way 
entirely under his stern looks and semi-accusation he found 
himself disappointed, for she seemed quite relieved at the 
turn the conversation had taken; and as the detective 
seemed to expect her to say something she said, H am 
really sorry for Lady Montgomery, though she did not treat 
me well after inviting us to visit her.^^ 

^^0, ho,^^ thought the detective, ^ Ve ^re coming to it ; 
the cat will soon be out of the bag.^’ He continued : ^^Did 
you see the young lady while you were there 

^Tf you mean a little girl about eight years old, I did, 
as we crossed the park — a pretty fair-haired little beauty ; 
I made that remark to my daughter here, did nT I, 
Marnier 

^^Yes, ma, you did.^^ 

Miss Hogg had made up her mind to say as little as 
possible, fearing that her temper would get the better of 
her; and she was quite amused watching Walgrave, who, 
in his turn, watched Mrs. Hogg, expecting her to betray 
herself every moment. As for her, she had no such fears ; 
she felt quite easy; she knew that the detective would be 


m 


MISS HOQa 


yet more puzzled before he had done questioning her 
mother. 

^^And did yon speak to her 

^^hTo, we did not; she passed us on her white horse; 
that ^s all. And 3^ou say that she ^s lost ? But did n't you 
say something to the effect that you have found her in 
this hotel, so that it will be all right now, won't it ?" And 
she looked innocently at the detective, who changed color 
and looked daggers at poor Mrs. Hogg, who was at a loss to 
know how she had offended him. He thought she was 
mocking him and defying him. He would accuse her of 
having taken the child and keeping her in hiding and see 
how she would like it. In fact, her emotion as he had 
entered the room justified him in his belief that Isabelle 
was Lady Florence. 

While these thoughts passed through his mind, Mrs. 
Hogg, though very patient, was feeling indignant at 
his looks, and she said: ^^Why have you come to me with 
Lady Montgomery’s troubles ? Of course I am pleased that 
she has found her niece again if she had lost her, but I 
don't think that gives you the right to come to me in my 
private room and look and act as if I had insulted you." 

The detective was nonplused ; he felt hot and cold, and 
hardly knew where he stood, for there was no mistaking 
Mrs. Hogg's sincerity unless she was a perfect actress and 
had nerves of iron, and he could not believe that, having 
seen her distress at the sight of him. 

Miss Hogg had hard work to keep from laughing 
outright — ^the situation was so comical. Walgrave looked 
from mother to daughter, and saw that Miss Hogg was 
amused but not uneasy. What was he to think ? He must 
speak out at all hazards, even if it turned out that the 
young lady he had seen was not Lady Florence; but she 
must be — the age, the golden hair, though the hair had 
been cut; the aristocratic beauty of the child — everything 
combined, reassured him and gave him courage to speak. 

^^Madam," he said, ^Vill you inform me who that child 
is that I saw as I came in?" 

Mrs. Hogg began to look troubled ; but the question had 
no effect on Miss Hogg except to send her into a fit of 
laughter, to the great astonishment of Walgrave, who was 
getting dazed. He never had had a case like this before. 


AMERICAN- HEIRESS l73 

He had felt so sure that he was on the right tack, but 
now he doubted it one moment, and the next he called 
himself a fool for doubting; and seeing Mrs. Hogg’s em- 
barrassment strengthened him in his belief. 

Mrs. Hogg had not answered and he repeated, ^‘^Tell 
me who that child is and I will relieve you of my 
presence.” 

^^You have no right to ask me and I will not tell 
you.” 

^^But, madam, if I tell you that I believe her to be Lady 
Florence then you will answer me.” 

^^What ! My Isabelle, Lady Florence ?” 

^^Yes, madam; though now that I have seen you I 
give you credit for not being aware of the fact. You have 
been imposed upon.” And he looked at Miss Hogg, whose 
only answer was another peal of laughter. 

^^My dear Mamie, how can you laugh so when you see 
me in distress about our dear Isabelle?” 

^^You need not distress yourself, ma ; this gentleman is 
only making a mistake, that ’s all.” 

^^Well, young lady, if I am making a mistake prove it to 
me by letting me see and speak to the young lady.” 

^^Well, I like your cheek to come here and give us 
orders; you must be crazy; who are you, anyhow? A de- 
tective, you said ; all bosh, I say ; more likely you ’ve heard 
that we are rich and you want to blackmail us ; that ’s it ; 
you don’t look like an honest man with your false beard 
and blue spectacles, and if you don’t leave this room I ’ll 
send for a policeman. Now I guess you’d better go; 
you’ve said more than enough already,” as Walgrave was 
about to speak, and, ringing the bell, she said to the 
servant who answered it, ^^Show this man out; he has 
insulted us.” 

Walgrave had certainly not expected to be turned out 
in such a high handed manner — Miss Hogg’s black eyes 
flashing and her large white hand pointing to the door, 
for she had risen, and she stood there as tall as he, and 
looking almost as strong. He had to go, for he was 
not sure enough to accuse her openly, and he had no 
warrant to search for the young lady. 

As the owner of the hotel came up to see what had 
happened in his usually quiet hotel. Miss Hogg, looking 


m 


Miss maa 


the picture of indignation, addressed him before Walgrave 
could do so, as he had intended, — ^^Look here, sir, this 
here fellow has forced himself into our private room and 
insulted us, I believe, with the intention of frightening 
us women into giving him money; he ^s a blackmailer, 
and in disguise, too; look here/^ And before Walgrave 
could prevent her she had given a tug to his false beard 
with such force that it came off into her hand, exposing 
his bruised face to all present. Miss Hogg was as much 
surprised as the rest of them, for there was no mistaking 
the bruises; they were real, and no mistake. 

^^Well, my fine fellow, I have a good mind to send for 
the police,^’ said the hotel keeper. ^^How dare you come 
into a respectable place like this and try your tricks on my 
lodgers — on ladies too? ISTow you be off, or I fil have you 
kicked out 

Walgrave was certainly disconcerted. If he had been 
able to retain his disguise he could have faced the hotel 
keeper and explained matters to him ; but what could he do 
with a bruised face as he had? Ho one would believe 
him ; still, he had his badge ; he must show it to the hotel 
keeper and at least prove that he was a detective, even 
if he had a bruised face ; so he said, ^‘1 ^m a detective ; 
that^s the cause of my disguise; and as for my bruised 
face I got it trying to arrest a rogue a few days ago. 
Those things will happen to men of our calling.^^ 

The hotel keeper began to look grave and did nT 
know what to do. He said, ^Tf you are really what you say, 
prove it by showing us your badge.’^ 

^^That ^s what I ^m going to do,’^ and he felt in his 
pocket for it but it was not there; and yet he was sure it 
was there less than an hour ago. 

He began to look blank and Miss Hogg finished him 
by saying, ^Tt ’s all sham ; you see that he has no badge.^^ 
^^True enough,^^ said the hotel keeper, ^The lady is 
right.'’^ 

Walgrave was furious. Where could his badge be? 
Miss Hogg could have enlightened him on that point, for 
after pulling off his false beard she had dropped it at 
his feet, and W^’algrave had bent down to pick it up; in so 
doing he had dropped his badge from his breast pocket, and 
Miss Hogg, having put her foot on it unnoticed by any- 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


175 


one, had it safe for the time being, and was enjoying 
AValgrave’s disappointment and furious looks, for somehow 
he seemed to hold Miss Hogg responsible for the loss of 
his badge; yet he could not have explained why; she had 
not been near enough to him to take it, and even if she had 
slie could not have done it without his knowledge ; he had 
to admit that even to himself. She must be a witch-^ 
a she-devil. 

^^Do you wish to have this man arrested asked the 
Jiotel keeper, addressing Miss Hogg. 

^^0, no, let him go;’^ she said good-naturedly. She 
was too cute not to know that Walgrave could soon have 
proved that he w^s a detective, if they sent for the police, 
and she wished to appear kind and forgiving in the eyes 
of every one present. She also longed to pick up that 
badge, and wished everybody was gone. 

As for Walgrave, as soon as Miss Hogg had said that 
she did n’t wish him to be detained, he had stuck on his 
beard again and walked downstairs^ saying, will soon 
see you again. Miss Hogg.” 

^^Eeally,” said the hotel keeper, ^‘^he did n’t deserve any 
mercy at your hands. Miss Hogg ; you have been too lenient 
to the fellow; however, if he shows himself here again 
I ’ll take him in hand and he won’t get away so cheaply.” 

Miss Hogg and her mother were left alone, the latter 
looking pale and frightened. x\fter picking up the badge 
and dropping it into her pocket. Miss Hogg closed the door, 
and seating herself by her mother tried to cheer her, 
telling her that the man was a cheat and she must n’t 
mind him ; he could n’t take Isabelle away from her ; 
if he tried to do it they would appeal to the American 
consul, and he would make it all right. 

^^Yes, you ’re right, Mamie ; you think of everything, 
my dear, while I only fret. How go and see after Isabelle.” 

^^Yes, ma, but she ’s not here. I told Katy to take her 
to Eichmond. Do you wish me to go there and see if she ’s 
safe ?” 

^^Yes, Mamie, if you don’t mind the trouble.” 

^^Ho, I don’t, so good by, and mind you don’t fret; 
I’ll take care of her, never fear.” 

Miss Hogg was pleased that her mother had sent her 
to look after Isabelle’s safety, for she was very anxious to 


MISS HOGG 


176 

know if everything was right with Katy. Suppose she 
had been followed. Of course, no harm could come to 
either, as it was not Lady Florence; but still she wished 
to keep up the deception, though she saw clearly that it 
w'ould not be for long, with men like Walgrave and 
Mathew after them. She did not know the latter by name, 
but she knew that he was a shrewd fellow. How strange 
that these two clever men had bruised faces ! — for now she 
believed Katy — that Mathew’s face was really bruised. 
Poor devils, she thought, they have hard times, I guess ; and 
this poor fellow whom I have exposed as an impostor, how 
he must have felt; and yet he was only doing his duty. 
And how well dear ma played her part ! I had to laugh 
or I would have burst;” and she laughed again at the 
remembrance of the scene she had just witnessed. 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


177 


CHAPTER XXVI. 

We shall leave Miss Hogg going to Richmond, where 
another scene is awaiting her, and follow Mr. Walgrave, 
who has never felt so enraged in all his life — and so tricked 
— for he felt sure that the child he had seen was Lady Flor- 
ence, and he was sorry he had not stopped the maid at all 
hazards. Now it was too late, but he would have the hotel 
watched so that she could not leave it without his knowl- 
edge. He little knew that she had already left. So he 
sent one of the cabmen with a note to the captain of 
police asking him for two detectives to watch the hotel 
while he went to change his disguise and get a warrant to 
search for the child. He remained about the hotel till he saw 
the detectives coming ; then he walked away without paying 
any attention to them, and in less than an hour he had 
returned with a warrant and a new badge, which had 
cost him much trouble; he ought not to have lost his 
badge; if it was found by some dishonest person it might 
be made use of for bad purposes. 

Walgrave was now disguised with a long brown beard, 
for he had to wear something that would hide his bruised 
face. After having ascertained that neither the child. Miss 
Hogg, nor her mother had been seen to leave, he went 
straight to the office and asked to see the proprietor; the 
clerk rang for him and he soon made his appearance. Wal- 
grave did not give him time to speak for he saw that he was 
recognized; but he said, must have a private interview 
with you. See this paper,^^ showing him the warrant to 
search for the missing child who was supposed to be in 
the hotel. 

^^Come this way;’^ said the hotel keeper, for he saw 
that something was going on in his hotel unknown to him. 
When Walgrave found himself alone with him he showed 
him his badge, proving that he was a detective, and he ex- 
plained in a few words that he was Walgrave, the detective 
emplo}^ed in the sear^jh for Lady Montgomerys^ niece foi' 
t^’llpni siich a large reward was offered. 


178 


MISS HOGG 


^^0, I know ; I \e seen it in the papers ; and do you 
mean to say that Mrs. Hogg^s pretty little girl is Lady 
Florence? How came she by her? Tlie child is fond 
of her and does n’t seem to be detained against her will.” 

H can’t explain, but I ’m sure that it ’s her. That was 
the object of my first visit ; I never insulted Miss Hogg, but 
simply asked her mother to allow me to see the child, 
and Miss Hogg turned on me like a fury, and got the 
best of me, too, as you saw for yourself. I believe she 
herself took the child away. The mother is innocent, I 
believe ; her daughter has deceived her in some way.” 

^^But that is all very absurd,” replied the hotel keeper ; 
^^she can’t expect to retain the child long ; and to bring her 
here so openly too ! I think you will find out that you 
are mistaken ; it cannot be !” 

^^Well, we shall see,” replied Walgrave. ^^Why did 
they refuse to let me see her?” 

^‘Yes, that looks bad, but yet it can’t be !” 

^^Well, we ’ll soon see. I have a warrant, and you must 
accompany me.” 

will; it is my duty.” 

They both went up to Mrs. Hogg’s rooms. She was 
resting after her excitement, the chambermaid said, when 
asked by her master to tell Mrs. Hogg that he would like to 
see her for a moment on matters of importance. 

^^Go back,” replied her master, ^^and tell her that I 
am exceedingly sorry, but that it is absolutely necessary 
that I should speak to her or to her daughter.” 

Mrs. Hogg appeared at the door looking flushed and 
very weary. 

^^What is it that you want with me ? I am far from well, 
and wanted to rest.” 

must apologize for disturbing you, but this matter 
is forced upon me; I have no alternative. This gentle- 
man,” pointing to Walgrave, ^finsists on seeing the young 
lady.” 

^^But he cannot and shall not,” she replied, excitedly. 
^^She is mine, and he shall not take her away from me; 
she is not Lady Florence, but my own dear Isabelle. I 
shall appeal to our consul to protect me against these 
intrusions; the man must be a madman!” 


THE AMEEIOAH HEIEEsS 


179 

madam^ I am not mad/^ said Walgrave, ^^and I 
give you credit for being sincere in all you say; but you 
have been deceived; that child is really Lady Florence/^ 

^^And by whom have I been deceived 

^^By your own daughter^ whom we suspect of having 
taken the young lady away/" 

^^What ! by Mamie she cried^ excitedly. ^^Why, it was 
I that — that"" — and she stopped short, fearing that she 
had said too much. 

^^Surely you don"t mean to say that you took her away 
yourself?"" asked Walgrave, puzzled again as Mrs. Hogg 
began to cry; but he could get no answer from her. 

The hotel keeper, fearing that she would go into hys- 
terics, interposed, saying: ^^My dear madam, don"t excite 
yourself; there must be some mistake; if you would only 
let this gentleman see the child everything would be clear 
at once, since she is not the 3^oung lady he is looking for ; 
so do, for your own sake and peace of mind, ring for 
3^our maid to bring her here, and I pledge you my word 
that the child shall not be removed from here till Lady 
Montgomery comes and recognizes her herself. Now will 
3^ou permit me to ring, madam?"" 

believe you,"" said Mrs. Hogg, wiping her eyes. 
wish I could do as you advise, but she is not here."" 

‘^‘^What !"" said Walgrave, ‘^^not here ! Do you mean that 
the child has left the hotel ? Impossible ! I had the 
hotel watched during my absence for the warrant. And 
where is Miss Hogg? Perhaps gone, also, you will say."" 

^^Yes, you are quite right; she went away half an hour 
ago, and more."" 

^^ 0 , this is too much! And I believed you had been 
imposed upon. I believe now that you are an accomplice 
in this matter, and I insist on your producing the child. 
I have a warrant here that gives me the right to search 
the hotel, and I will do it."" 

Mrs. Hogg, who was really an honest and upright 
woman, felt the insult deeply; looking up at Walgrave with 
dignity, and more calmly than might have been expected 
after the exciting scenes she was passing through, she said : 
^^Since ihy word goes for nothing in your opinion, and 
you have a warrant to search my apartments, do so ; begin 


180 MISS HOOa 

by searching this one so that I may be allowed to rest, and 
don't come back to me concerning Lady Montgomery's 
niece. Isabelle is not her niece. If you want proof of 
that go to the American consul and he will inform you 
that Isabelle is mine. Now come in and search;" opening 
the door wide for them to enter. Turning to the hotel 
keeper, she said, ^^You may not be to blame in this affair, 
still, as soon as my daughter returns we shall leave here; 
I will not stay a day longer in your hotel." 

am sorry, madam, and believe me, I am not to 
blame ; but I can't prevent a search or I would do it." 

Walgrave had entered the room, but had seen at a glance 
that Lady Florence was not there, and he soon came out, 
not knowing what to make of Mrs. Hogg; she seemed so 
sincere in what she said. He bowed to her and followed 
the hotel keeper upstairs. Mrs. Hogg, closing her door 
and locking it, dropped into an easy chair, quite ex- 
hausted and very much pained to have been accused of 
stealing the child. Why should they accuse her or her 
daughter? She had never given them cause to do so; 
why, it would have been madness to do so ; she would have 
been found out. And what did she want with a child like 
Lady Florence, who would never love her, or be grateful 
to her for having taken her away from her people ? Why, 
the man must be mad! She fell asleep and dreamed 
that Mamie had been arrested and hanged for murdering 
Lady Florence; she awoke with a scream and saw Mamie 
bending over her, almost as frightened as she herself was, 
for she had not been able to awaken her mother by knock- 
ing at her door, which was locked, and she had gone down 
to the clerk for a key to open it. A man servant had been 
sent up with her to help her, and he had knocked off 
Mrs. Hogg's key from the lock inside and then opened the 
door with his key. 

Miss Hogg was in great fear. Had her mother fainted, 
or was she perhaps dead ? When she had heard her scream 
she had run to her with her heart in her mouth, and 
throwing her arms around her, had said, ^^What's the 
matter, ma, are you ill ?" 

Mrs. Hogg looked around her and seeing her daughter, 
said, ^^0, Mamie, they didn't hang you for murdering 


THE AHERICAK HEIRESS 181 

Lady Florence ? This is really you, my dear ? I must have 
dreamed it” 

^Toor ma! It is the fear of losing Isabelle that 
has made you have such an awful dream 

^Terhaps so, my dear/^ And she told her daughter 
what had happened during her absence, and her intention 
of leaving the hotel, of which Miss Hogg approved. 


182 


MISS HOGG 


CHAPTER XXVII. 

After leaving her mother^ Miss Hogg put on her hat 
and coat and had almost reached the front door when 
through the glass she saw Walgrave standing on the step 
looking up and down the road as if expecting some one, 
and she guessed at once that the hotel was going to be 
watched, and that she had better try to get out before 
he got reinforcements, and as there were three doors 
it would be quite possible to escape as long as there was 
only Walgrave to watch; he was standing at the door 
nearer Russell Square, so she went to the other end and 
watched for Walgrave to turn his head toward Russell 
Square, which he often did, seemingly expecting some one 
from that quarter; then, before he could turn round, she 
ran down the steps and up those of the next house, 
where she remained and saw the two detectives relieve Wal- 
grave, one of them planting himself where Walgrave had 
stood, and the other at the door she had just passed 
through, and, facing each other, they could both see 
the middle door, so that there was no chance to leave 
the hotel without being seen by both. Miss Hogg laughed 
to herself at the trick she was playing them, and 
as soon as Walgrave had disappeared toward Russell 
Square she ran down the steps and actually looked into 
the detective^s face. He saw her, but not knowing Miss 
Hogg, and having no order to stop anyone from anywhere 
but the hotel, he let her pass. She walked two blocks, then 
took a cut to the underground railway to go to Richmond 
and find out whether Katy and Isabelle had arrived 
safely. We shall leave her thinking of the scenes she 
had passed through that day, and return to Mathew. 

The day after Miss Hogg eluded him, as we have 
already told, he rested until afternoon; he then disguised 
himself, using a long, fair beard, to hide his features; 
he could not remain at home, for he felt sure that Wal- 
grave would steal a march on him, for he did nT believe 
that he, Walgrave, would stay at home, as he had advised^ 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


183 


hiin^ Mathew^ to do; so he was not surprised when he 
saw him enter the hotel in the guise of an old man. 
He knew him at once by his walk. 

^^0/’ thought Mathew, ^^you have deceived me; but 
wait ; I dl watch my chance to step into your shoes.^^ 

A carriage stopped at the hotel; he turned; he recog- 
nized Miss Hogg and a middle-aged lady — her mother, 
perhaps — and a lovely little girl, who must be Lady 
Florence; but he was too late; Walgrave was ahead of him; 
it would not improve matters were he to go in, so he 
would stay about the hotel to see how Walgrave would 
manage. N’o one would notice him for there are always 
one or two gentlemen standing at the doors; he would 
be supposed to reside at the hotel. 

An hour went by and Walgrave did not appear, but 
Katy and the young lady did, and, calling a cab, they drove 
rapidly away; Mathew hailed another and followed. ^^Ah, 
ha thought he, hn not far behind you, Mr. Walgrave; 
3^ou are looking after Miss Hogg, who is giving you the 
slip by sending her maid with the child to some place 
of concealment, and is now entertaining you with all kinds 
of stories to give her maid time to get away ; and I, whom 
you have kept in the dark, am on her track and will not 
lose sight if her until I have her and the child safe.^’ 

They had not far to go, for Katy was going to the 
underground railway. She arrived just as a train was 
leaving, and she boarded it without tickets. Mathew 
tried to follow but he tripped over the legs of a clumsy 
fellow sitting on a bench, and he measured his length on 
the floor. The fellow helped him up, and, of course, was 
very sorry, but when Mathew regained his legs the train 
was disappearing in the dark tunnel. ^^Well, I ^m unlucky, 
and no mistake,^^ he murmured ; ^hf that clumsy fool 
had nT knocked me down I would be on the train with 
them and they could n’t have escaped me ; but now what 
am I to do? If I take the next train, which passes in 
an hour, I won’t know Avhere to get down, for she did n’t 
buy a ticket, so I can’t find out what station she ’s bound 
for; still, I must start; it will take time, for I shall have 
to get down at every station and inquire if they have been 
seen. I see no other way, and I may as well take it coolly 
as to get into a rage as Walgrave would be sure to have 


184 


MISS HOGG 


done if lie had been in my place. I wonder how he is 
faring down there with Miss Hogg! I doubt if he is 
much better off than I am.^^ 

Mathew had sat down on one of the benches to wait for 
the next train, and as he thought over past events he felt 
that he had never before been in such a complicated case. 
He could not see Miss Hogg’s motives in taking the child, 
if she had done so, and apparently she had; she certainly 
was both clever and brave, and had eluded them so far, 
but they were closing in upon her; it was only a matter 
of a few days at the most, perhaps hours. 

The train whistle was heard; he went to the office 
for his ticket and as he stood there awaiting his turn he 
could no longer complain that his luck had deserted him, 
for there stood Miss Hogg buying a ticket for Padding- 
ton ; she did n’t notice him, but looked behind her several 
times. Mathew purchased his ticket for the same place, 
and followed Miss Hogg to make sure that she was really 
going. When he had seen her safe in one of the carriages 
he got into the next and watched at every station to see 
that she did not escape him. 

Miss Hogg, feeling sure that she had not been followed, 
felt easy in mind, not expecting, of course, that anyone 
was waiting at the station, for how could anyone know 
where she was going? If Katy had been followed they 
would have gone after her, and not remained on the 
platform; so she was safe so far; still, when she got off 
the train she walked briskly on till she had left the 
station; then she turned sharply round and met Mathew 
face to face; he had not expected her to look around, 
and he had kept rather too close to her, fearing to lose 
her in the crowd. 

It was evening now, but the bright gaslight made 
everything as light as day. Miss Hogg did not recognize 
Mathew in his new disguise, but as their eyes met he had 
half stopped. That was enough for her; she guessed 
he was a detective on her track ; she had seen those bright 
black eyes before; but where? for she did not remember 
the man. This one looked like a gentleman; he was tall 
and slight; in fact, a good looking man; she would have 
another look at him, for his eyes haunted her; so she 
retraced her steps and passed hirti^ looking boldly iutp his 


?rHE AMEHlCAlsr HEIRESS 185 

face; he could not escape her, for he could not expect 
her to come back on her steps, and somehow, he could not 
have explained it to himself, but he seemed forced to return 
her look, by her stronger will, and as he did so a smile 
of recognition came into Miss Hogg^s face, for she had 
noticed the redness in the white of his eyes, and also some 
of the bruises showing above the fair beard. ‘^Ah, ha,^^ 
thought she, ^^my friend with the bruised face; the loafer 
of yesterday; I must say that he has improved; he^s 
really handsome since he has lost that big stomach of 
his; I would never have known him but for the look he 
gave me. Well, I ^m going to have fun with you for a 
little while longer; then the grand denouement. 0, my 
heart, but won’t you look blank when you see Isabelle! 
and as you don’t know Lady Florence you will make sure 
that it is she, and I ’ll have no one see her except Lady 
Montgomery. 0, my lady, what a disappointment is in 
store for you when you have made sure of getting your 
niece back and me well punished ! I will turn upon you 
and claim damages for false accusation, and that will be 
Isabelle’s dowry. I guess I know what I ’m about ; I ’m 
not my father’s daughter for nothing. I take after him, 
and I ’m cute, and understand business. Every one will 
take my part in this affair — our consul most of all. 0, 
my heart, if he only knew the truth would n’t he turn hot 

on me ! But I ’ll send ma to speak to him, and of 

course he ’ll believe her, for she ’ll tell him the truth 

as far as she knows it. Poor ma ! what a game I ’m 

making her play ! What fun I ’m getting out of all 
of them 1 I ought to have been a chief of detectives ; 
I have a decided capacity for that calling.” 

She called a passing cab, after assuring herself that 
there was not a second one near. She got in, and the 
cabby asked, ^^Where to, mum?” 

^^To one of the best shops you know ; I ’m a stranger 
here.” 

^What kind of shop, mum?” 

millinery shop, of course; you don’t suppose I 
mean a beer shop, do you?” 

^^Yes, mum — no, mum.” And jumping on his box, he 
drove rapidly away, and Miss Hogg, who had not lost 
sight of Mathew, had the pleasure of seeing him run full 


186 


MISS H0G(1 


speed after the cab, not having been able to get one to 
follow her. Miss Hogg glued her eyes to the little back 
window of the cab and laughed heartily. Some boys 
called to the cabman to stop, that a gentleman wanted him, 
but he only whipped behind, as he understood that some 
one was hanging behind his cab, for the noise of his 
cab and the busy wagons just passing kept him from, 
hearing. 

Mathew no longer hid himself; he knew that he had 
been recognized; all he cared for was not to lose sight of 
Miss Hogg; and yet he could hardly expect her to go 
right to Lady Florence with him following a few steps 
behind. Ho, he was too wise for that; he knew that she 
would try to give him the slip, and he would pretend that 
she had done so by keeping out of her sight; and he 
would follow her to Lady Florence's, go in boldly, and 
never leave her until everything was cleared up. There 
was no other way; for if he only tracked her to the house 
and then went for assistance, she was sure to give him the 
slip ; and how long would it be before he would have another 
such chance as the present one? And the reward was 
great — one thousand pounds — and he would get it all; 
it would be a fortune for him, and what a name he would 
have made! he would be sure of promotion, and would 
be the equal of Walgrave, 'who had been a detective for 
twenty years, and he was not yet thirty years old. 

All these thoughts passed through his mind as he ran, 
and such a prospect was worth running for; still, he was 
glad when the cab stopped and Miss Hogg got down and 
walked into the shop ; he also walked in, taking no more 
notice of her, but walking to the back of the shop, he asked 
for some handkerchiefs; he was told that they didnT 
keep gentlemen^s handkerchiefs; he walked out. 

His motive had been to see if the shop had any back 
entrance; he saw that it had. What w'^as he to do? He 
could not watch at both entrances; but Mathew was a 
man of great resources ; he was not going to be beaten ; so 
he walked past the cabman, saying as he did so, ^Tf you 
want to earn five shillings, follow me just a few yards from 
here.^^ 

The cabman, who was walking up and down, waiting 
for Miss Hogg, took the hint, for he saw that there 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 187 

was something up, and in one of liis walks he stopped where 
Mathew was waiting for him. 

‘^‘Look here, cabby said Mathew, hurriedly, showing 
him his badge, want to find out where this lady lives; 
you take her home, then come back for me to the back 
entrance of this shop ; here ^s five shillings and 1 11 give 
you five more when you\e taken me to her. Now 
go back to your cab or shell miss you.^^ 

^^All right, sir, 1 11 do it.^^ 

Mathew, having made sure of the chief entrance, 
turned to the back, hoping that she had not already left. 
He had to walk at least two blocks in going round. If he 
had ever hurried in his life he did so then, and he was 
rewarded by seeing Miss Hogg coming toward the door; 
he managed to show himself, yet pretending to hide, for 
he wanted her to go back to her cab. He hid in a doorway as 
if waiting for her. She actually opened the door and 
looked out. Would she dare come out, knowing that he 
was there, for he was sure that she had seen him. But no ; 
she only looked up and down the dark street, and not 
seeing Mathew she felt sure that he had not wanted her 
to see him and was now in hiding, hoping that he had not 
been noticed by her. So having satisfied herself that 
Mathew must be there, she re-entered the shop, saying, 
^^This is the wrong entrance,^^ and going rapidly to the 
front door to offset Mathew she hurriedly got into the 
cab, saying, ^^To Kichmond, Bellevue Cottage, as fast as 
you can.^^ The driver whipped up his horses with a will, 
having in view another five shillings. 

Miss Hogg kept looking out of the back window, but 
did not see an 3 "one following, either on foot or in a cab, 
and she felt sure that she had again fooled the detective, 
though she didnT care how soon he found her out, for 
this was getting dull; she wanted something more ex- 
citing. 

She arrived safe at the old lodgings, paid the cabman 
and dismissed him. Using her latchkey she entered her 
rooms and found Katy and Isabelle quite safe. The}^ 
had supper, and Miss Hogg reported all that had occurred 
between Wal grave, her mother, and herself, laughing 
merrily all the while. She showed the badge and said, 


188 


MISS HOGG 


^^Who knows if one day I may not want this ; I ^11 keep 
it in case I do/^ 

During all this long talk, Isabelle, not understanding 
a word of it, had lain down on the sofa and gone to sleep, 
for she had no fears, nor did she know that they were 
keeping her in hiding; she did not awake even when a 
loud knock came to the front door, but Miss Hogg changed 
color, and Katy began to tremble. 

^^Now don^t be a fooV^ said Miss Hogg; ^^they don't 
want Isabelle, and we are going to prove to them that they 
are mistaken, and make them pay for it too; so you keep 
cool, Katy." 

Yes, it was Mathew knocking; the treacherous cab- 
man had betrayed her to him for ten shillings, thinking 
to himself, ^^This American lady must be a shoplifter if 
the detectives are after her; she looks bold enough for 
anything;" and he had hurried back to fetch him and 
bring him to the house, though it was after eleven o'clock. 
He had not hesitated to knock, for he feared that Walgrave 
would make his appearance and snatch the prize from his 
grasp at the last moment, for he was on the right tack 
now unless he had lost the scent, which was not likely 
for an old hunter like him. Mathew's knock brought 
the landlady's head out of an upper window; she asked 
who it was and what was wanted. 

am Mathew, the detective, and must see you on im- 
portant business; sorry to disturb you, but it can't be 
put off." 

The landlady's head disappeared and soon the front 
door was opened by her, herself. She looked very much 
flurried and uneasy; no detective had ever called on her 
before ; what could have happened ? Her only tenants were 
Mrs. Hogg, family, and servant; still, a detective, calling 
so late at night, or even in the daytime, gives people 
a feeling of fear and uneasiness, let them be ever so free 
from guilt. She asked Mathew his business. 

He began by showing her his badge, and asked for 
Miss Hogg — ^to be shown to her rooms. 

^Tt is quite impossible," she replied, ^^at this hour of 
the night; call to-morrow morning, and I will do so with 
pleasure, though I am at a loss to know what you can 
want with her. They are Americans and strangers here." 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


189 


know all about that, and even if she were in bed I 
would insist upon seeing her; so show me the rooms and 
leave the rest to me/^ 

^^But, my dear sir, they are my lodgers, and I cannot 
have them insulted by allowing a man to go to their 
rooms in the middle of the night, even if he is a detective, 
unless I know the reason why, as it is my right/^ 

^^Well, madam. Miss Hogg is accused of kidnapping a 
young lady about eight years old/^ 

^^You doift mean it! That lovely, fair little girl?^^ 
^^The same; and I have traced her here/^ 

^^Yes, the child came back this afternoon with her 
maid, and Miss Hogg has not been in long herself/^ 
^^That ^s it ; I \e been following her, and now that I 
have her under my thumb I ^m not going to risk losing 
her by waiting till to-morrow; — do you understand me 
now ? — after hunting for her for more than a week/^ 

^^But was not the child missed at once?^^ asked the 
landlady. ^^Why did nT you follow at once 

^^We did, madam; the very night she disappeared.^^ 
^^But, sir, this young lady has been here more than 
a month; she was brought here for quiet, as she had 
been ill.^^ 

The detective looked at her and thought she had been 
paid to put him on the wrong track ; and he thought, ^m 
not going to waste more time explaining, perhaps giving 
Miss Hogg time to escape me,^^ so he said, ^^Show me to her 
room ; I ^11 take all the responsibility.^^ The landlady 
obeyed, protesting all the time. She knocked at Miss 
Hogg’s dining room, and was pleased to see that she was 
there, it being so late she had feared that she had retired. 

^^Come in,” said a loud voice, and she entered, making 
many apologies for allowing a visitor to come up at that 
hour of the night. 

^Well, who wants me?” 

^^This gentleman, miss; do you wish me to stay or 
shall I leave you?” 

^^Ho, you had better stay and hear what he has to say. 
I have no secrets. Well, sir, what is the meaning of this 
intrusion ?” 

Mathew walked into the room and thought, ^Ts she 
going to keep me here talking while the maid takes 


190 


MISS HOGG 


another trip with the child, as she did to Walgrave?^’ 
But as he looked around he felt reassured, for the maid was 
there, and the little girl was fast asleep on the sofa. ^‘'0, 
I all right this time ; Miss Hogg may escape me ; I can t 
retain her forcibly, having no warrant ; but as for Lady 
Florence I won^t lose sight of her under any inducement; 
so. Miss Hogg, clever as you are, you donH make me 
leave this room without that child."^^ That ^s what he 
thought. What he said was, ^^What I have to say to 
you is most important for me to say, or for you to 
hear.^^ 

^^0, bosh! donT beat about the bush, but come to 
the point at once. What do you want?^^ 

^^This young lady,^^ pointing to the sofa; ^^Lady Mont- 
gomery’s niece, whom you have abducted. That is my 
business with you. Miss Hogg.^’ 

^^Well, I never! I must say that you don’t want 
much ; anything else you claim here ? Don’t you want my 
maid too?” 

’m not joking. Miss Hogg; I mean what I say.” 

^^And so do I,” replied Miss Hogg, in a loud voice; 
^^and I like your cheek to come here and tell me that my 
sister is Lady Florence; you must have the jimjams, 
my good fellow, and I defy you to lay a finger on her 
to take her from here. Do you hear? I^ow do your worst, 
and make haste about it for I want to go back to my 
mother.” 

The landlady was shocked at the unladylike speech 
of Miss Hogg, who always used strong language when ex- 
cited. Mathew remained calm under this fire, and said, 
^‘^Miss Hogg, I am positive that this 3 "oung lady is Lady 
Montgomery’s niece, and I will not lose sight of her until 
you prove to me that she is not.” 

^^0, my hept, but the man’s a fool! I have no need 
to prove anything; it is you, yourself, who will have to 
prove your claim to her. Do you know Lady Florence? 
If so, look and see for yourself that this child is not 
she.” 

^^Unfortunately I do not,” he replied; H must send 
for some one who does.” 

^^Well, look here, young man, I ’m not going to allow 
you to bring Toni, Dick, and Harry here to swear that 




191 

111)' sister is Lady Florence; don’t think it. I want Lady 
Montgomery to call here, and if she claims her as her 
niece I am satisfied. Flow what are you going to do about 
it?” 

^^Stay here and notify her ladyship to come to town, for 
we have found her niece, but that you will not deliver 
her to anyone but herself.” 

^^That ’s right, my good fellow, and let me tell you that 
you are making it hot for Lady Montgomery, for I shall 
claim damages for the way I have been followed and 
insulted this past week. And remember that this young 
lady is not Lady Florence, as you will find to your cost, I 
warn you ! And I will not have this child frightened. 
You will allow my maid to put her to bed and to stay 
with her. You can guard the door outside.” 

^^Yes ; while your maid makes her escape with the child 
through the window. N’o, Miss Hogg, I can’t allow the 
child to leave my sight.” 

^‘^You will have to; and if you have any fear of her 
escaping by the window, guard it also; but I promise that 
the child shall not be removed until Lady Montgomery has 
seen her. You talk like a madman; why should I want 
Lady Montgomery’s niece?” 

Mathew could find no answer to this, for he had asked 
himself the same question many times, and had not been 
able to answer it. 

Turning to Katy, Miss Hogg said, ^^How you take that 
child to bed, and mind you don’t leave her a moment; 
and when Lady Montgomery comes let me know; don’t 
let her see Isabelle in my absence. As for me, I must 
go back to my mother.” 

A step was heard on the stairs, and a man entered the 
room hurriedly, not seeing Mathew, who was hidden by the 
door; as it opened, the newcomer, who seemed very much 
out of breath, looked all around the room, and, as he 
saw Isabelle fast asleep, said with a smile, ^^At last I 
have run down my game.” 

‘"^Not so, Mr. Walgrave,” said Mathew; ^^you are poach- 
ing on my preserves.” 

^^You here, Mathew!” said Walgrave, in surprise and 
disappointment, for he saw the reward escaping him. 

^^Yes, Mr. Walgrave, and I am glad that you have come. 


Mtss no^a 


m 

I was about to send for help to see that no one leaves 
this house/^ 

^^Well, I going to leave the house/^ said Miss Hogg, 
^^and I should like to see the fellow who is going to pre- 
vent me. I must go back to the hotel.^^ 

When Walgrave was told how matters stood he thought, 
^^Miss Hogg has got to the end of her rope, means to leave 
the child here and decamp ; but she won’t. I ’ll be her 
escort.” So he said, ^^Well, Mathew, since you were here 
first you have the best claim. You stay here and I will 
escort Miss Hogg back to her hotel, and I will send you 
a couple of men in case of need ; but I don’t think you ’ll 
have any more trouble. I will also send a telegram to 
Lady Montgomery asking her to come to London at 
once, that her niece is found at last.” 

Miss Hogg, enjoying their obstinacy, consented to 
leave the house with Walgrave, knowing that the more 
they insulted her the greater the damages she would have 
the right to claim; so she returned to her mother, as 
we have seen. 


trHiJ AMERICAN HEIRESS 


193 


CHAPTEE XXVIII. 

But hovf did it happen that Walgrave had found his 
way to Eichmond so soon after Mathew had left him going 
upstairs with the hotel keeper to search Miss Hogg’s 
bedroom? Of course there was no one in it, but the 
detective’s sharp eyes traveled around the room in search 
of a clew, and as he was on the point of leaving Miss 
Hogg’s bedroom, he noticed a piece of wrapping paper 
on the bed, looking as if its contents had been removed 
in a hurry, and the paper left there. He had it in his 
hands in a moment, examining it carefully, and he was 
rewarded by reading on it the address, ^^Miss Hogg, 
Bellevue Cottage, Eichmond.” ^^Ha, ha,” he thought; 
^^they must have lived there, and there is a chance that 
Miss Hogg has taken the child there; it’s worth look- 
ing after;” and he had gone to Eichmond, reaching there 
shortly after Mathew, as we have recorded, and his dis- 
appointment was great when he saw that Mathew had got 
ahead of him. Poor Walgrave was certainly not in luck; 
everything seemed to turn in Mathew’s favor. 

On his way to the hotel with Miss Hogg, Walgrave 
telegraphed to Lady and Lord Montgomery that Lady 
Florence v/as found, and asked them to wire back what 
time the next day he might expect them at Paddington 
Station; he would be on hand to take them to her; she 
was well, he had seen her himself. Miss Hogg looked 
over his shoulder without any ceremony as he filled the 
form, and said, ^^You are dooming Lady Montgomery 
to great disappointment, though you don’t think so.” 

^^All right, young lady, we shall see; to-morrow will 
decide.” 

They returned to the cab, and were driven to the hotel, 
and it was after one o’clock when he left Miss Hogg at her 
door. She was surprised to see a light in the dining room, 
and, trying the door, found it locked, as we have already 
seen. 

The next day Miss Hogg sent for one of the best 


194 


MISS MOGG 


lawyers, explained matters to him, and asked him what 
amount of damages she should claim, not that she cared 
for the money, but, as Lady Montgomery deserved to be 
punished for it, it was the only way she could do it. She 
would pay the lawyer well for his trouble, for she was 
rich. 

^^Well, madam,^^ he replied, ^^this is a very extraordi- 
nary case, and if you are positive that the young lady is 
not Lady Florence you certainly have a right to claim a 
large sum — say three or four thousand pounds — and you 
will get it too, without going to court. I ^11 manage 
the business for you. I will interview Lady MontgomeryV^ 
lawyer and make them come down with what we ask 
for or publish the whole affair in the newspapers.^^ 

had rather not have it in the newspapers,^^ replied 
Miss Hogg. have no desire to attract attention, and 
have every one staring at me when I go out; and as for 
being sure that my sister is not Lady Florence, the best 
proof of that is my sending for you.'’^ 

^^Very true, madam; then we shall have to wait until 
Lady Montgomery has seen the young lady.^^ 

‘^Certainly; we expect her this afternoon. I am going 
to Eichmond, under the care of Detective Walgrave, who 
intends to have me arrested should the young lady prove 
to be Lady Florence. How I want you to accompany us 
and be a witness. You will also be able to ask Lady 
Montgomery her lawyer’s name and address, and to give 
her a hint of what we intend to do.” 

^^Why, Miss Hogg, I see that you are quite a business 
woman, which certainly gives me great pleasure, for usually 
it is so hard to make ladies understand law business. I 
have spent hours explaining, and when I have thought I 
had made it all clear, they would ask a question showing 
that they had not .understood one word.” 

^^0, my heart! but they must have been fools, those 
ladies,” . said Miss Flogg, with a laugh. 

The lawyer looked hard at her, for so far she had 
acted pretty well ; and he thought, ^‘“'She ’s a clever woman 
and quick at understanding, but she is coarse, and decid- 
edly not a lady ; still, she can’t have taken the child or she 
would not have sent for me to claim damages.” 


THE AMERICAN" HEIRESS 195 

Miss Hogg^ what time shall I meet you at 

Eichmond 

Miss Hogg showed her cleverness by answering, ^^Yoii 
had better stay in the hotel; it is now ten o'clock and 
Walgrave is waiting to learn of Lady Montgomery's ar- 
rival; she is to wire to him from Paddington Station to 
meet her at the Eoyal Hotel, as she did not care to have 
him come to the station, fearing publicity. If you stay 
here we can start together." 

^‘^Is your mother coming?" 

guess not ; I have n't told her yet that I 'm being 
watched and am not allowed to leave the hotel; nor that 
Isabelle is also kept a prisoner; she would fret her heart 
out if she knew it. I 'm going to her now, and if I 'm 
wanted send for me quietly, for poor ma must not be 
worried. When everything is over I will tell her, but 
not now." 

She left the lawyer to go to her mother. She told 
her that she intended to go to Isabelle that afternoon. 

^^I think I 'll go too, Mamie ; I miss her so much." 

H wouldn't if I were you," answered her daughter. 
‘^'Wait till I get some nice furnished rooms somewhere 
about here; then you can have her with you all the time; 
that fellow who wanted to claim her is still in this hotel, 
but I hear that he is going to-night for good." 

^^All right, Mamie; you're so headstrong that there's 
no going against you, so I 'll stay, but don't be gone 
long." 

^^Ho, ma, I 'll be back soon." 

Hearing a knock at the door she rose, and there met 
a servant, and knowing her errand, she silenced her 
with a look, and left the room; but Mrs. Hogg had seen 
her and asked her what she wanted ; ^‘^Only to see after the 
fire, mum," answered the maid, cutely. 


196 


MISS HOGG 


CHAPTEE XXIX. 

Miss Hogg, her law3^er, Mr. Bridgewell, and the de- 
tective, reached Bellevue Cottage safely. Walgrave, leav- 
ing Miss Hogg in the care of Mathew, departed to fetch 
Lady Montgomery, who was waiting for him at the Eoyal 
Hotel, accompanied by her son. As soon as she saw 
the detective she said, ^^You are sure that it is Lady 
Florence 

^^Yes, my lady, a fair-haired little beauty; it must be 
her, though Miss Hogg denies it firmly, and has brought 
a lawyer with her.^^ 

^Where is she?^^ 

^^At Bellevue Cottage wuth Lady Florence. Mathew 
is guarding her and will not allow the child to be removed 
until you have seen her.^^ 

^^Well, let us go,^^ said the captain. long to make 
sure that it is my cousin whom you liave found.^^ 

^^So do said her ladyship. 

Entering the carriage that was waiting for them, 
the}^ were soon at Bellevue Cottage. The landlady re- 
ceived them at the door and invited Lady Montgomery 
and the captain into the drawing-room, but her ladyship 
refused, sa3dng, ^^Let us go at once to my niece; I long 
to see her; I hope, and yet I fear.'’^ 

The landlady led the way upstairs, and, after knock- 
ing at the door, opened it, and disclosed to view Miss Hogg, 
facing the door, her lawyer by her side, and the little 
beauty, with her back turned to the door, playing with 
something in Miss Hogg’s lap; Mathew, near the door, 
looked inquiringly at Lady Montgomery as she entered, 
and so did Walgrave, for now their doubts were to be 
removed. 

Her ladyship’s face cleared up, and a joyful smile shone 
on it as she stood in the doorway, and, lifting her joined 
hands, said, ^^Thank God. It is our Florence!” 

^^Yes, mother, there is no doubt of that/’ said her 
son^, who stood behind her. 


THE AMEJiiCAN HEIRESS 197 

thought sof said Walgrave, rubbing his hands 
joyfully; said so all along/^ 

But Mathew^ who had been watching Miss Hogg’s face, 
saw that there was a look of mischief in her bright black 
eye, and a mocking expression on her lips, that made him 
uneasy. The lawyer looked somber. Had Miss Hogg 
dared to impose upon him, and bring him into such 
a false position and such dishonest dealings? But not 
a word was spoken. 

All eyes were on Miss Hogg, who rose, as Lady Mont- 
gomery approached Isabelle, and, straightening herself 
up to her full height, she took Isabelle by the hand and 
turned her round facing Lady Montgomery and son; she 
said in a loud voice, ^^You must have wheels in your 
head. Lady Montgomery, if you can say that this child is 
your niece.’’ 

Lady Montgomery turned as white as death, for she 
saw at once, and beyond a doubt, that it was not the child 
she had believed, by her hair, to be her niece a moment 
ago — though the hair had been cut, it was the same beauti- 
ful color; her size, her elegant appearance, everything, 
had led her to believe that it was Lady Florence; but 
when she saw the face, though it was very beautiful and 
refined, she could never have mistaken it for her niece’s. 
It was a terrible blow to her, for she had been so positive 
a moment ago ; and now her sorrow was the greater for the 
joy she had experienced at the thought of having found 
her. The captain was also very pale, and much surprised 
at the great mistake that they had both made; and as 
for Walgrave, he gnashed his teeth with rage at having 
been made such a fool of by Miss Hogg; and yet, how 
could he say that she had led him astray when she had told 
him all along that he was making a mistake? He had 
been deceived by circumstances; he could prove nothing 
against Miss Hogg, and he knew it. 

Poor Mathew also looked very blank. Where was the 
reward that he had made so sure of, and no promotion? 
Instead of this he and Walgrave would both be cen- 
sured for the mistake they had made. He felt and knew by 
MisS^ Hogg’s looks that she was the cause of the failure, and 
yet he could not have explained it^ nor would he have 
dared accuse her of it. 


198 


MISS HOGG 


The lawyer saw his way clear to make a good round 
sum out of this business. 

Miss Hogg continued: ^^Do you still claim her, or 
have you discovered your mistake? I guess you have, 
and now I hope you will relieve me of your presence, and 
order your clever detectives to hunt elsewhere and leave me 
to go and come as I please, and not have them at every 
street corner following me and my maid, and insulting me 
and my mother, who was too ill to come here, through 
the worry she has experienced concerning your niece. 
What could I do with your niece? Tell me that. Oilr 
Isabelle is ten times more beautiful, are you not, my dear T’ 
addressing the child, who remained quiet, but attentive to 
all that was said. 

And though Isabelle did not understand anything 
about Lady Florence, she understood that this lady and 
gentleman had come to claim her, and that Miss Hogg 
was lighting her battle. She loved Mamie for it ; still, she 
pitied the lady who looked so unhappy, and she said, 
‘^Mamie, I would never leave you and mamma, but still 
donT be so cross to this lady; she looks so unhappy, and 
I ^m sorry if she has lost her little girl ; but I ^m not 
her, I ^m Isabelle de Courtney. 

The lawyer looked at her with a smile and said, 

on Ye a perfect little lady, my dear, and lovely enough 
to be a princess.^^ 

Lady Montgomery had been unable to utter a word, 
the shock had been so great and unexpected. At last she 
managed to say, am really very sorry. Miss Hogg, that 
such a mistake should have occurred, and that you should 
have been anno3^ed. I apologize to you most sincerely, 
and hold you guiltless concerning the disappearance of 
our dear child. This little lady is not our Florence.^^ 

^^Aha, my lady, so you are not riding such a high 
horse as when you insulted me at 3^our country house, 
eh? I said that I would be revenged, and this is my 
time. Here is my lawyer, Mr. Bridgewell; if you will 
name ycurs he will arrange matters with him to my 
satisfaction.^^ 

^^ 0 , I see;^^ said her ladyship, throwing back her 
proud head; ^^it is a matter of money with you. I feared 
to insult you or I would have mentioned it myself, and 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 199 

asked you to name a sum that would compensate you 
for the annoyances this unfortunate aifair has occasioned 
you. I see that I was mistaken.^^ And turning to the 
lawyer, she said, ^‘^My lawyers are Messrs. Storm & Morgan, 
iSTo. 12 Clements Lane, London.^^ And addressing her 
son, she said, ^^My son, we have no more business here;^^ 
and she walked out of the room with the air of a queen. 
And though Miss Hogg had been victorious, and her 
plan had succeeded so far, yet she felt very small. 

As Lady Montgomery left the room Miss Hogg felt 
humbled, and certainly not the equal of Lady Montgom- 
ery, though she had had the upper hand of her. She 
felt no inclination to laugh, and she murmured, ^^0, if 
I had only been a lady I would not feel as I do ! I suppose 
that I should not have asked for money; I know she 
thought it mean ; she looked shocked, but I don^t care ! 
I ^11 get just as much out of her as I possibly can, and it 
will be for Isabelle. My father always says never miss 
a chance of making money by hook or by crook, and I think 
he ^s right. How poor ma would never have thought of 
asking for anything ; but she ^s so simple 

Her lawyer aroused her from her reveries by saying 
that it was best to strike while the iron is hot, and that 
he was going to call on Storm & Morgan and demand 
four thousand pounds in her name, with her permission. 

^^Yes, you had better go ; do you think that I ^m 
right in claiming damages 

^^Most assuredly, my dear madam; it would not be 
wise to lose such a chance; you have suffered at their 
hands and they won^t miss it; so leave everything in 
my hands and you will be satisfied and he departed. 

Walgrave and Mathew had disappeared as soon as 
Lady Montgomery arid her son had departed, and were 
now discussing what was to be done next. The only 
clew they had was the clothes found at Jerry^s cottage; 
if they could only find him they might soon be on the 
right track; but he seemed to have disappeared entirely 
from the time he left Burr street. 

^^Miss Hogg seems to have cleared herself of all 
blame in this affair,^^ said Walgrave. 

^^Yes,^^ replied Mathew, ^To all appearances; and I 
may be a fool to feel as I do, but I have the impression 


200 


MISS HOOa 


that she has taken ns in and is laughing at ns; I can^t 
drive that thought away/^ 

1 ” said Walgrave; ^^and yet that child cannot 
be Lady Florence, for Lady Montgomery would have 
known her, and the child herself would have known her 
aunt and cousin, • and she loves Miss Hogg, there no 
gainsaying that; all I can say is that I am puzzled and 
never felt so bad in my life before ; and Lady Montgomery 
will have to come down with a good sum of money through 
our blunder; and yet I don’t see how we could have 
acted otherwise/^ 

^^Well,” said Mathew, ^^there^s no use crying over 
spilt milk; let us look forward, not backward/^ 

^^Quite right, Mathew ; I ’m going to try to find that 
Jerry. What do you propose doing ?’^ 

^ J ’ll stick to Miss Hogg and find out her next move. 
I seem to be drawn to her and can’t make up my mind 
to go on another tack.” 

Hs Jack on the lookout?” 

^^Well, no; as he was sure that I would catch Jerry; 
but I ’ll set him on his track again ; he ’s a clever fellow, 
and may help us. I hope he will.” 

By this time they had arrived at the railway station, 
and Mathew saw Walgrave leave for London. He himself 
remained at Eichmond to look after Miss Hogg, who soon 
left for London, taking Isabelle and her maid with her. 
Mrs. Hogg was very glad to have them back with her 
again. 

Miss Hogg, leaving Isabelle with her mother, went 
out to look for furnished rooms, as she had promised her 
mother to do, and she soon found what she wanted not 
very far from Lady Florence. They moved that same 
night, to the great delight of Mrs. Hogg, who had never 
felt at home in a hotel. 

The next day Miss Hogg sent for a carriage and took 
Lady Florence for a ride in the park, Katy going with 
them, and Jerry acting as coachman. Surely Miss Hogg 
was fond of danger ; her success had made her bold. Lady 
Florence was dressed exactly like Isabelle, with a very 
slight difference; at least Mathew thought so; for he 
had not lost sight of Miss Hogg, and he said to himself, H 
don’t know if I am going mad, but I could swear that 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


201 


this is not the same little girl we saw yesterday; she 
does n^t look so lovingly at Miss Hogg. I must find out.'’^ 
He had seen them just driving away in the carriage and 
had followed them to the park and stood inside the ropes. 
He had seen the carriage pass and repass several times, 
and he felt more sure every time. 

Jerry noticed and recognized Mathew in the gentleman 
with black beard and mustache who looked so hard at 
the carriage every time they passed him, and when at a 
safe distance he told Miss Hogg of her danger. 

^^What, at it again she said ; ^dDut wait ; I ’ll play him 
such a trick that he won't knov/ where he stands. Go 
back home, stop at the door just time enough to put this 
young lady down; then drive your carriage three doors 
above, and wait there openly.^^ 

Jerry obeyed. They passed Mathew on the road. 
Katy and the child jumped down, and Jerry moved on 
three doors above, where Miss Hogg lived with her mother 
and Isabelle. She alighted; just then Katy joined her 
at the door, and they both went in. Jerry waited, not 
knowing what to do next. He saw Mathew approaching 
and he pretended to be adjusting the harness. Mathew 
approached, saying, ^^Well, my man, you have fine horses 
there.^^ 

^^Yes, sir,” Jerry replied politely, facing his enemy, 
who looked at him, but did not recognize him, as his 
mind was intent on the child he had just seen, and 
certainly he had never expected to find Jerry as Miss 
Hogg^s coachman. 

^To whom does this equipage belong?” 

^Tlease, sir, my name ^s J ohn, and the carriage belongs 
to Miss Hogg, leastways I think so; but here she be; you 
can ask her ;” and Miss Hogg appeared, holding Isabelle by 
the hand, her mother following, and Katy behind. 

Mathew drew back ; he had not expected Miss Hogg 
to come out again; he heard her say, ^^Dear ma, it would 
be a shame to leave you home on such a fine day, and I 
know that Isabelle wonT mind having another ride, will 
you, dear?” 

^^0, I do love riding so much, Mamie, and to see 
all the fine ladies as we did.” 


202 


MISS HOGG 


^^Yes/' interrupted Miss Hogg, ^^but you like it better 
when ma is with us, don^t you?'^ 

^*^0, yes/^ And before she could say more they were 
off to the park again. 

Isabelle had never been out riding without Mrs. Hogg, 
and she was about to say so when Miss Hogg ordered her 
coachman to drive to the park. 

Mathew followed again ; not knowing that he had been 
recognized, he did n^t hide ; he was certainly more than 
puzzled ; he feared that he was suffering from an hallucina- 
tion, and nov/ that he had seen the child closer he had to 
own to himself tliat it was the one they had seen yesterday ; 
but the one he had seen that morning had seemed different 
— in what way he could not have explained — the dress 
was the same, beyond a doubt, and the golden hair under 
the broad brimmed hat. Where was the difference? He 
felt as if he were going mad ; yes, it must be himself that 
was wrong; his head must be giving way under so much 
strain and disappointment as he had undergone lately, 
besides the blows he had received from Walgrave. He 
kept on watching, his mind getting more and more un- 
easy every time he looked at Isabelle, who seemed as happy 
as a queen, often speaking to Mrs. Hogg, and smiling 
lovingly at her. Mathew compared her behavior while rid- 
ing with Miss Hogg that morning with that of this 
second ride; she seemed to enjoy the second one mucli 
more. Was it owing to Mrs. Hogg’s presence? It might 
be. They seemed much attached to each other. Miss 
Hogg now and then looked at her lovingly, but she had 
done the same during the first ride. It must be Mrs. 
Hogg’s presence which brought the light and joy to Isa- 
belle’s face. But what had made him doubt the identity 
of the child at the first glance he had given her? Ho 
owned that he must be wrong, and 5 ^et there was a weight 
of uneasiness on his mind that he could not shake off, 
argue as he might. 

It was well for Miss Hogg that Mathew had not been 
able to approach the carriage near enough to look into 
Lady Florence’s face, for the game would have been up. 
He was a shrewd fellow, and if she did not make a move he 
would catch her yet, clever as she was, and she knew it. 
^Hf it was Walgrave I could bamboozle or bully him into 


AMiiRiCAK- liHlRIlSS 


203 


getting into a passion^ and so get the best of him; but 
this fellow is as cool as a fish in a pond and hefil do 
me mischief. I think it ^s about time we left England. 
I fil play him one trick more and then I ^m off. I must also 
get rid of nia ; I fil send her back to ximerica with Isa- 
belle.^^ 

She had noticed the uneasy look on Mathew’s face, 
though she had taken good care not to let him see that 
she recognized him. After an hour’s ride they returned 
home, still followed by Mathew up to the house; he was 
just turning the corner as they got down and were enter- 
ing the house. ^^Well,” he thought, ‘‘1 must be mad, 
that ’s all ; for I saw them come out of the house and I have 
seen them return to it; everything seems square, but the 
same doubts fill my mind.” 

Had Mathew been near enough to see Lady Florence 
enter the carriage he would have noticed that she had 
come out three doors below the one that Isabelle had 
passed through; but he had arrived just in time to see the 
carriage drive away and he could not have said from which 
door, and very naturally he thought it must be from the 
same house. He had seen Mrs. Hogg and party go for the 
second ride, and he was certain that they had returned 
to the same. must be out of my senses, that’s all. 
I ’ll go and take a rest ; that will clear my head ; then I 
shall see that coachman and get what I can out of him; 
he seems intelligent, but I must go slowly, for Lady Montt 
gomery won’t relish paying another few thousands for 
my blunder, should it be one. These Americans are the 
very devil for cunning and deceit; but did she really do 
it, as Lady Montgomery and her son seem to be sure she 
did? For my part, when I consider these things without 
prejudice I don’t see a shadow of proof against her. That 
she is making fun of us, leading us a chase, and enjoying 
it too, is beyond a doubt; and that she is making a good 
profit out of it is also sure. But then again, what has 
become of Lady Florence? That’s the push! Did she 
or did she not do it ? There, I ’m at it again. Botheration ! 
My head feels like a spinning wheel ; I ’ll surely go mad ! 
I ’m generally pretty cool, but I must say that in this 
case 1 don’t feel the same man. Come, Mathew, cool 
down, or you ’ll make a mess of it ! If Walgrave was in mv 


MISS HOGG 


m 

place, feeling as I do, he break a blood vessel. 1 wonder 
if he^s on Jerry’s track yet! He’ll beat me yet, I’m 
afraid !” 

Poor Mathew! Had he guessed that he was so near 
Jerry and had spoken to him he would have felt worse 
yet, and called himself a fool not to be looking for Jerry 
while looking for Lady Florence. We will leave him to go 
and take a rest and clear his brain for his next meeting 
with Miss Hogg, and, like a true British subject, wish him 
all success in bringing this American heiress to a well 
deserved punishment. 


ITHD AMJERICAK’ HEiRESS 


205 


CHAPTER XXX. 

Miss Hogg, although she had outwitted Mathew this 
time, was beginning to fear him, and for a few days she 
did not take Lady Florence out. She felt that she was 
being cornered. She had received her four thousand 
pounds from Lady Montgomery, and the lawyer had pock- 
eted five hundred pounds. She had no desire to be found 
out and be compelled not only to pay back the money but 
be severely punished; still she must outwit the detectives 
once more. She did not remember the proverb' that says 
^det well alone.^^ ^^The last time^^ seems to me to go always 
contrary to our wishes and to bring us into trouble or sor- 
row, as the case may be; and unless Miss Hogg^s luck 
follows her, as it certainly has done so far, she will not be 
an exception to the rule; she will learn to her cost that 
she may take her pitcher to the spring once too often. 

She had taken the Jerrys into her confidence; she could 
not very well have done otherwise, for she needed help, 
and as they were entirely dependent upon her, not daring 
to return to their cottage, she had them in her power, 
and as Lady Florence was in their charge, should she 
be discovered they were sure of a terrible punishment — 
imprisonment for years. They, knowing the danger into 
which Miss Hogg had led them, and seeing no way of 
escape, had made up their minds to do their best to conceal 
the child, though had they known at the beginning that 
Miss Hogg had taken her it is doubtful if they would 
have consented to have had a hand in it, though they 
were well paid. Having forgotten the child^s clothes in 
the cottage had been the finishing touch; they would 
seem to be the guilty ones if they were caught, for the 
proof was strong. They would be supposed to have done 
it for revenge, Jerry having been run down as a poacher 
by Lord Montgomery’s gamekeeper, Harrison. Xo matter 
what accusation they brought against Miss Hogg they 
could prove nothing ; their word would not be taken. The 
mother and son had often discussed the matter, and had 


206 


MISS HOGO 


agreed that there was no going back on what had been 
done, that Miss Hogg’s clever management had put it out 
of their power; so they sank deeper and deeper into it, 
obeyed, and joined their wits to hers to outwit the de- 
tectives. 

The young jjady Florence was not unhappy; she had 
fretted the first few days, but when told that she was 
in danger of being stolen by gypsies, saw how kindly she 
was treated by every one, and that Miss Hogg bought 
]ier all kinds of toys and promised to take her back to her 
aunt as soon as the bad people had gone away, she became 
apparently happy. Katy often visited her and amused her, 
as well as Mrs. Jerry; and, after all, she was only an 
eight year old child, and had only been with her aunt 
a few months, and though she loved her and her cousin, 
she missed the French customs of her former home. Miss 
Hogg promised to take her to France while they were 
waiting for the gypsies to go away, and she seemed rejoiced 
over it. She had been very much pleased to go to the 
park in Miss Hogg’s carriage, and she told her that she 
had been there with her aunt while they were in London; 
but she had felt rather surprised when Katy had rushed 
into the house with her, saying, ^^Eun upstairs, dear 
Isabelle, I saw the gypsies around the corner,” and had 
left her on the first step to find her way alone to Mrs. 
Jerry, and had rushed out, slamming the door after her. 
She had gone up and told her nurse Mary, as she called 
Mrs. Jerry, and the old woman had guessed that danger 
^vas at hand; had locked the door, peeped out at the 
window, and seen her son waiting with the carriage a 
few doors above; she had also seen the detective talking 
to him — she did not recognize him, but she guessed who 
he was ; then Miss Hogg, coming out with the real Isabelle, 
followed by Mrs. Hogg and Katy. Mrs. Jerry saw at 
once that Miss Hogg had had a narrow escape, and 
was trying to deceive the detective by going out with 
Isabelle, having returned under the pretext of fetching 
Mrs. Hogg. Would it succeed? She hoped so. ^^What 
nerve that Miss Hogg has ! Many women would faint 
under the circumstances,” she thought, but Miss Hogg was 
of the fainting kind. 

Still, she was beginning to fear Mathew ; she could not 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


207 


throw him off the scent; she certainly pnzzled him, bnt 
did not convince him, and sooner or later he would find 
out the trick, for he continued dogging her steps under 
one disguise or another. Sometimes she did not recog- 
nize Mm until her return home; it vfould come on her 
like a fiash; yes, it must have been he in the disguise 
of a dandy, with a glass stuck in his right eye. They 
had met him three times. Mathew was decidedly hand- 
some now that his well shaped nose had taken on its 
proper size and the bruises had entirely disappeared. Why, 
she had had a mind to smile at him as he looked into 
their carriage with what she had supposed to be admira- 
tion. 

^^0, what a fool I am, after all, and how he must 
laugh at me for my vanity ! You bet he ’ll overreach 
me yet! I no longer dare to take Lady Florence out, 
and Jerry says that a boy the size of the shoeblack who 
betrayed him once, is often seen about our place, Mathew 
is always pumping him, and that it’s a wonder that he 
has n’t recognized him, and he fears that he will with 
the help of the boy. 0, this can’t last; I must make a 
move; we will go to America; surely he will not follow us 
there.” 

She discussed the matter with her mother, who owned 
that she would really be pleased to go back to her husband, 
as she was tired of knocking about, and that if Mamie 
had had enough of Europe she would be ready to start in 
less than a week; and so it was arranged. 

Miss Hogg, her mother, and Isabelle often went out 
shopping, buying all sorts of things to take back with 
them. Mathew was kept busy, and he was on the watch 
more than ever, for he thought, ^^This looks to me as if 
they were preparing to make a move, but she won’t give 
me the slip this time ; I ’ll find out where she ’s going ; 
the coachman said to America, and I believe he spoke the 
truth. I asked him if he was going too, and he said, 
T wish I were, but Miss Hogg don’t seem inclined to take 
me. You don’t want a coachman, do you, sir, or perhaps 
some of your friends may; please say a word for me.’ 
He’s a fine fellow, but of course I don’t want him. If 
he only knew who I am he wouldn’t be in such a hurry 
to tell me about his mistress ; but I only said, T ’m not 


208 


MISS HOGG 


settled enough yet to get a coachman, but I ^11 mention 
you to my friends/ 

Poor Mathew ! He was being taken in by Jerry, who, 
in telling him that Miss Hogg was going to America, was 
only obeying orders; and he would have felt greatly em- 
barrassed if Mathew had taken him at his word and en- 
gaged him as his coachman; but clever Jerry knew very 
well that there was no danger ; a detective does n’t require 
a coachman. 

Jerry’s mother had also received orders to tell the 
landlady that the American family to whom the young 
lady belonged were to return to America in a week. 

Trunks were packed, and a good many of them, for 
Miss Hogg had purchased a good supply for Lady Florence 
and her nurse. At last, the day of departure arrived; 
Mathew had been apprised of it by Jerry, and had set 
Jack to help .him to watch, for how if Miss Hogg should 
go without leaving a clew behind ? They would be in the 
dark, for Walgrave had failed to find any trace of Jerry 
or his mother, and Miss Hogg was so deep, and quite 
able to smuggle Lady Florence on board the train for 
Liverpool, or have her sent under the care of some one 
else to join her on the ship before it left port, for he had 
no inclination to go running after Miss Hogg to America. 
So he and the boy watched the house all that day from 
early morn, though Mathew had been told by Jerry that 
they meant to leave at four o’clock in the afternoon ; still, 
not entirely trusting Jerry, they had watched all day; but 
Jerry must be a truthful man, for at half past three a 
v/agon came for the trunks, and at four Jerry was seen 
coming round the corner with the carriage. Mrs. Hogg 
came out of the house first, accompanied by Isabelle, 
who was well muffled up for fear of the pight air; only the 
tip of her pretty nose could be seen, and even that only 
through a thick veil. Miss Hogg wore a thick veil, but 
there was no mistaking her tall and strong figure. Katy, 
the maid, came last, her hands full of bundles. The 
coachman helped them all in, and, mounting his box, 
moved away as fast as he could, and made for the 
Great Eastern Station. 

Mathew and the boy, having each had a cab in readi- 
ness, followed, and arrived at the station almost as soon 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


209 


as Jerry; but everything seemed square. Mathew lieard 
Jerry say, ^^0, Miss Hogg, I do wish I was going with you; 
I ^m left without a place.^^ 

^^Well, John, it can‘t be helped,^^ was the reply; 
never promised to take you, and you ^11 be sure to find 
another place soon ; here ^s a present for you and she 
gave him a purse that seemed well filled. 

^^Thank you, ma^am,^^ he said ; ^^can I do anything more 
for you?’^ 

^^ISTo, John.^" 

^^Well, good-by, ma’am, and a happy journey to you, 
your mother, and the young lady.” 

^^Good-by, John; now I must go; I hear the train.” 
And she disappeared in the station with Mathew after 
her. 

As for Jerr}^, he had pretended not to see Mathew, 
but seemed very much affected, and wiped his eyes on 
the sleeve of his coat ; he then mounted his box again and 
drove away with a smile on his face. 

When Miss Hogg entered the waiting room she called 
her maid aside, and after saying a few words to her they 
both laughed merrily. Llathew, who stood near the glass 
door, saw them, and said to himself, ^^They are probably 
laughing at me, thinking that they have given me the 
slip, but I ’ll get aboard the train and follow them to 
Liverpool, and I must manage to see that child’s face; 
why she ’s so wrapped up I don’t know, for tlie weather ’s 
not cold; my doubts about that child are growing strong 
again. You may think yourself safe. Miss Hogg, but %e 
laughs well who laughs last.’ A'ou might have waited 
until you were out of the woods before rejoicing at your 
escape ; you have no idea that I ’m so close to you or 
perhaps you would n’t laugh.” 

But Mathew was mistaken. The scene enacted by Miss 
Hogg and her maid had been for his benefit, for Jerry 
had told her under what disguise to look for him, and 
she had seen him pass the glass door, not appearing to 
recognize him. 

The train entered the station and people rushed to 
their seats, while the porters carried the luggage to the 
car. Mathew watched on the platform, never losing sight 
of Miss Hogg for a moment, and when she entered a first 


210 


MISS HOGG 


class carriage he got into the one next her and kept his 
head out of the window until the train started. He looked 
for Jack on the platform but saw nothing of him; in fact;, 
he had not seen him since their arrival at the station; 
perhaps he was in another carriage ; but he did n’t trouble 
about him for he knew that he was quite able to take care 
of himself. 

The train went on and Mathew watched at every station 
to see that Miss Hogg did n’t escape him^ but she showed 
no sign of wanting to do so. When they had passed 
several stations the train stopped for five minutes for 
refreshments. Neither Miss Hogg nor her mother got 
out, but Katy brought them some tea and cakes, went 
back with the tray, and was gone so long that Mathew 
grew suspicious, got down, passed Miss Hogg’s carriage 
to see if the child was still there, and found to his great 
satisfaction that she was. Miss Hogg was saying ^^Katy 
will be left if she does n’t hurry back.” Sure enough ! the 
guards called ^^All aboard!” people came running in, 
but no Katy. Miss Hogg had had her head out of the 
window apparently looking for her maid;, but she was 
not to be seen. The whistle blew and the train began to 
move. Katy was seen running toward the carriage, but 
too late; trains never stop for laggards. Miss Hogg 
shouted to her to come by the next train, threw her purse 
on the platform, and the maid was left behind, the very 
picture of despair; but no sooner *had the train disappeared 
than her face changed as if by magic. Eeturning to 
the waiting room, after picking up the purse, and laugh- 
ing to herself, she said, ^^Well, that was a good one ! I wish 
Mamie could have done the same, but she could not for 
he would have got off at the next station and come back, 
or perhaps jumped out of the carriage here, and then 
where would we have been ! But never mind ; she ’ll give 
him the slip yet, clever as he is 1 He ’s a nice looking 
fellow, too, now that his face is n’t bruised. How different 
to the American chaps ! Well, I should smile ! Don’t 
I wish I could get a fellow like that to marry me? You 
bet I do. Why, I ’d lace his shoes ; but he ’s too proud ; 
he wouldn’t look at me; a detective thinks something of 
himself here, and I must say that this one ’s clever, and 
if Mamie was not the very devil he would buve caught her 


AMURICAK HEIRESS 


m 

before now. He seems to know that she has done it, though 
he has no clew to go by; he keeps after her like a blood- 
hound. But it ^s near time for my train.'’^ 

She went to the ticket oflSce and got a ticket for 
London, not for Liverpool. 

Miss Hogg arrived safely in Liverpool with her mother 
and Isabelle, and went to the Eoyal Hotel, where Mathew 
followed them. He had not as yet been able to see the 
child’s face and he resolved not to leave until he had done 
so. He engaged a room and retired, having learned that 
Miss Hogg intended to remain there over night. 


MISS HOOa 


313 


CHAPTEE XXXI. 

Meakwhile^ Miss Hogg^ after ordering supper served 
in a private room., went upstairs to her mother and said, 
^^Xow I think you can manage without me. There are a 
lot of our American friends in the hotel who are going 
by the same steamer.’^ 

^‘^Yes, but still I think, Mamie, that you ought to come 
back with us. What will your father say, after you have 
been away for so many months 

^^0, donH bother ; he wonT say nothing ; he ^s only 
too glad to have me enjoy myself. I really intended to 
go back with you, but when Jennie M^Kane told me that 
they were going to Paris, and her father, mother, and her- 
self begged me so hard to go with her I could nT say no ; 
and now that you have Isabelle you wonT miss me, and I ^11 
come back with them in about two months. Give pa 
all the presents I bought for him ; see that the pipe donT 
get broken, and give him my love. I ^m sorry that Katy 
missed the train, but she ^s to be here to-morrow morning, 
and if she is nT you can take another girl ; there are plenty 
who will be glad to go to America for their passage money. 
But perhaps Katy will be here in time, as the steamer 
doesn’t leave until afternoon. 'Now good-by, dear ma, 
God bless you !” and she kissed her mother affectionately. 

^^Good-by, my dear Mamie, and mind you take good 
care of yourself and don’t stay more than two months.” 

^^No, ma; I promise you; and I will write every week.” 

^^Good-by, sister Isabelle ; I ’ll bring you a Paris doll 
when I return;” she said, kissing the child. 

Isabelle kissed her affectionately, and said, wish 
you were coming with mamma and me.” 

^^So do I at this moment, for I don’t like to leave you, 
but it is too late now. What’s two months, after all? 
So cheer up.” 

The servant appeared and announced that supper was 
served in the next room, and disappeared. Miss Hogg 
saw her mother and Isabelle comfortably seated at the 


THE AMERICAIT HEIRESS 


213 


table, and, kissing them once more, she left the room 
and the hotel without having been seen by anyone, and 
Mathew least of all; for after learning that Miss Hogg 
had ordered supper upstairs he felt sure that she intended 
to remain at the hotel that night at least, so he had gone 
to bed and had slept soundly until five o’clock, when he 
awoke and kept watch on every one leaving the hotel. 

At ten o’clock, having seen nothing of Miss Hogg he 
ventured to ask if the American ladies had left. ^^ISTo,” 
replied the chambermaid, suppose they were tired, 
for they have just rung for breakfast.” 

The steamer was to leave at four in the afternoon, and 
probably Mrs. Hogg and family meant to rest until that 
time, not caring to go about Liverpool, so he waited and 
watched. He often thought of Jack. What had become 
of him? He would have been very useful just then, for 
it would be hard work for Mathew to watch and prevent 
Miss Hogg from escaping with the child in such a crowd 
as there would surely be at the steamer. Then he thought 
of Katy. Had she come by the last train the night before ? 
He must find out; so, when, about one o’clock, he went 
in to his dinner, he managed to ask if Miss Hogg’s servant 
had come yet, as she had missed her train and had been 
left behind. 

^^0, yes,” answered the maid, ^^she is with her now.” 

^^0, all right,” thought Mathew; ^fit was an accident, 
after all; she had not intended being left.” 

He waited patiently for the time of their departure, 
and thought it was strange that he had not seen Katy 
enter the hotel ; she must have come in the night ; perhaps 
the maid did n’t know, had only just seen her and thought 
she had just arrived; and thus his mind worked from 
one thing to another until he saw Mrs. Hogg go to meet 
the American friends who were also going back. 

Mathew was in a perfect fever of excitement. Where 
were Miss Hogg and the child ? He looked everywhere, but 
no Miss Hogg, no child; he was on the point of asking 
Mrs. Hogg herself, who was talking with an old friend 
whom she had not expected to meet there; but Mathew 
was saved the trouble of interrupting them, for he saw 
Miss Hogg and Isabelle coming down the stairs, well 


214 


MISS HOGG 


wrapped ^nd veiled ; but though he waited until everybody 
was going no Katy appeared. 

^^0, never mind the maid/^ he thought^ have the 
mistress^ which is better.'’^ 

He followed them to the steamer in a cab, never 
losing sight of Miss Hogg’s carriage. When on board, he 
passed Miss Hogg and stared her in the face, but the 
sight that met his eyes nearly floored him. The lady 
was not Miss Hogg, but a tall blonde, and decidedly 
English ; she was saying to Isabelle, ‘^^Come away from the 
crowd, my dear; let us sit down on this bench where we 
can see everybody and not be in the way. Do you think 
you will like me. Miss Isabelle ? When we get to your home 
I will lend you a lot of pretty books, and you will try to 
learn, won’t you, my dear?” 

^^Yes, Miss Davenport, I will try; and I shall have to 
learn to play the piano; you play so well.” 

^^0,” thought Mathew, ‘^This lady must be a governess 
they have engaged for the child, and the little girl is really 
the one that we saw at Eichmond ; but where are Miss Hogg 
and her maid who lost her train yesterday?” He turned 
pale as the thought struck him that he had failed again. 
0, if so, it was too humiliating ! Was it possible that they 
had again escaped him ! And why, if she was innocent? Ho, 
she must be guilty, and the child he had seen going for 
the first ride in the park was not this one. It must have 
been Lady Florence; now he felt sure of it; and Miss 
Hogg had stayed behind to hide her while she had made 
him run after her to Liverpool and had left him there. 
Poor Mathew was so exasperated at himself that he could 
have torn his hair; he, usually so cool; what was he to 
do — go back to London and look for Miss Hogg? But 
he had no clew; he didn’t even know if she had gone to 
London. He resolved to make sure that Mrs. Hogg and the 
child had left for America before searching for Miss Hogg ; 
he walked over to where Mrs. Hogg was with her friend, 
and listened, while apparently gazing overboard, and heard 
the friend ask why Miss Hogg had remained in England. 

^^She meant to return with me,” replied Mrs. Hogg, 
^T)ut the day before we left London some American friends 
asked her to go with them to France, and as they speak 
French, she thought she would enjoy herself more with 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


215 


them than she had with me, for we often made terrible 
blunders as neither of ns could speak French, or even 
understand it. Then Mamie is very hot-tempered, as you 
know; she would fly into a passion and abuse anyone 
who smiled, and I was glad when we came back to London ; 
and I am gladder still to go back to 'New York, for there ’s 
no place like your own home, after all; and my husband 
must be lonely, and will be glad to see me back again. 
What he fll say about Mamie not coming with me I don’t 
know, for he loves his girl, and I believe that she loves 
her father better than she does me, though she loves me 
too; she is so high-spirited and headstrong that I am 
obliged to let her have her way.” 

Mathew listened to all this and much more, and he felt 
that Miss Hogg had deceived her mother and had remained 
in England for a far different reason than to go to Paris, 
with the M’Kanes. Still, to anyone not interested in the 
matter it all seemed very plausible, and he felt that it would 
be hard for him to prove the contrary, unless he found 
traces of her in the company of a fair little girl. That 
remained to be seen, but for the present he did not know 
where to look for her. London was a large place and she 
certainly had not gone back to the same quarters, or 
what would have been the use of giving him the slip? 
The maid had remained behind, not by accident, but by 
a prearranged plan, and probably had returned to London 
and had gone away with Lady Florence, where Miss Hogg 
had now gone to rejoin them. 0, if he had not let her 
escape ! 

She must have gone in the night. His brain was 
beginning to get puzzled again when a voice called out, 
^^All ashore who are not goitig,” and all passengers’ friends 
hurriedly said good-by and left. Mathew was the last to 
go, and he remained on the pier until the ship steamed 
away. 

^^How,” said he to himself, am free to hunt for Miss 
Hogg. I don’t think she’s in Liverpool, so I’ll go back to 
London, try to And Jack and ascertain why he didn’t come 
with me. I must also consult with W'algrave. I can’t 
work this case alone, and two heads will be better than 
one, even if we have to share the reward, from which we are 
as far off as ever, I, at least; for perhaps Jack found a 


216 


MISS HOGG 


clew and went back to him, and between them they have 
found Lady Florence, while I have gone on a wild goose 
chase/^ 

All these thoughts had worked him up into a fever, and 
he wiped the perspiration from his forehead with his silk 
handkerchief. He had no appetite for his supper, so he 
waited in the station and bought his ticket for London, 
which he reached late that night. He would like to know 
where Walgrave was, if possible. 

Walgrave was just then at the office inquiring for 
Mathew. • 

‘^Well, it seems that you want to see each other,^^ said 
the captain to him ; ^diere is Mathew, who seems in a hurry 
to see you; perhaps he has found Lad}'' Florence. This 
note is from him. Will you go and see him to-night?’^ 
^^Yes, captain, I dl go at once and he hurried away, 
* thinking to himself that Mathew had found her, ^^or why, 
except to prove that he is more clever than I, should 
he wish to see me, for I must admit that he has been ahead 
of me all through this case. I sorry to lose the reward, 
but I would give it up willingly for the honor of having 
been foremost in this case. I feel humbled. At my age, 
and with my experience, to have failed, when Mathew, a 
young man, less than eight years on the force, has suc- 
ceeded. I hardly dare meet him!^^ 

Walgrave looked sad and careworn as he entered 
Mathew’s room and said, ‘^^You have found her, Mathew P’"’ 
^^Ho, have you?^^ was the answer that electrified him, 
and gave him renewed hope and energ}^ 

Mathew offered Walgrave a chair, which he took, full 
of eagerness to hear all that had occurred. 

They both concluded that the first thing to do was 
to find Jack. ^^He must have found a clew,^^ said Wal- 
grave; ^ffie^s a clever fellow, and may beat us yet.^^ 
^^Where do 3^ou propose to look for him ? I fil go back 
to the station and look for traces of him there, where I 
lost sight of him: and you, Mr. Walgrave, where can 3^ou 
begin 

^^At the house where Miss Hogg lodged with her mother 
and that mysterious little girl who has made us lose our 
reckoning so many times; and if I donT hear of Jack I 
may find out something worth knowing about Miss Hogg. 


THE AMERlCAK' HEIRESS 

We must not despise small clews, for they may lead to 
great results/^ 

^^You^re right, Mr. Walgraye; I owe my success to 
small clews ; I don^t mean about this case, for I made 
a mess of the whole business. 

^‘^Well, we\e done our best, and no one can do more; 
but if we want to begin to-morrow morning we ^d better 
go to bed and rest. You look done up.^^ 

^^And I can assure you that I feel queer,^^ replied 
Walgrave, ^^for I can^t take things coolly as you do. I 
have been in a fever ever since we began this case, and we 
are no more advanced to-day than we were the first day, 
but less, I may say; and there ^s no finding that Jerry; 
I \e hunted him high and low — had Smith and Stevens 
to help me — and among us we have n^t been able to find 
the shadow of a clew. Well, I ^m off ; I won^t keep you up 
any longer, it ^s after twelve and he left Mathew in a 
better frame of mind than he was when he entered. 

Mathew felt very much as Walgrave did. He resolved 
to use all his wit and energy to find some trace of Miss 
Hogg if Jack had not already done so. But why had 
Jack gone without leaving word anywhere? There was 
something mysterious in his silence ; he longed for the 
morning to come! 


218 


Miss HOGG 


CHAPTER XXXII. 

The two really clever detectives went their different 
ways, and Miss Hogg, after leaving the hotel, returned to 
the station on foot, as she had no intention of leaving a 
clew behind, fearing that Mathew would discover her 
escape early next morning; but, as we have seen, Mrs. 
Hogg, very innocently, covered her daughter’s retreat by 
remaining in her room till a late hour. 

Having sent a messenger to a servants’ bureau for a 
well recommended nursery governess willing to leave at 
once for Hew York, in less than two hours, a tall, ladylike 
person had applied for the situation, secured it, and had 
remained with Mrs. Hogg, sending the messenger with 
a note to have her trunk sent aboard the steamer by 
three o’clock, and so it was that Mathew had been deceived ; 
he thought the woman was Katy, the maid who had in- 
formed him having believed that the governess was the 
person he had referred to. 

Miss Hogg, having taken tickets, not for London but 
for Dover, traveled part of the night, and arrived at the 
hotel she had agreed on with Katy, expecting to find her 
there. She inquired, and was informed that no maid had 
come or asked for Miss Hogg. 

^^Well, show me to a bedroom, and as soon as she 
arrives send her to me.” 

^^Yes, ma’am,” answered the chambermaid, ’ll tell 
the clerk.” 

Miss Hogg thought : ^^There ’s a hitch somewhere ; 
Katy has had plenty of time to go back to London, arrange 
matters there, and be in time to meet me here. Walgrave 
is at the bottom of it. How have they managed to make 
a mess of it ? My plan was so well arranged, and to think 
that among the three of them they couldn’t find a way 
of escape. They have no brains; they send me no word 
of what has happened, leaving me here in the dark If 
I stay here Walgrave may come at any moment and arrest 
me, and if I leave here where are they to find me ? I can’t 


THE A]\iEKICAN HEIRESS 


219 


send word for I don’t know where they are, and my 
telegram might fall into the hands of the detectives; so 
I see nothing for it but to stay here and be caught. Katy 
is cute ; she would have managed to warn me ; why has n^t 
she done so? Some accident must have happened to 
her, or she has been arrested with Jerry and his mother. 
0, this is dreadful; just when I thought myself sure of 
success! I managed Mathew so well, why could n^t they 
manage Walgrave, who wasn^t half as cute? 

^‘^Well, it ^s no use, I can^t sleep. It would have been 
better if I had n’t taken the child at all ; I have often 
thought so, for what benefit is she to me ? But I did m t 
see my way clear to send her back without a scandal. 
Eeally, I wish I were with my mother on board the 
steamer. What will pa and ma say when they hear what 
I have done? Well, Mamie Hogg, you\e put your foot 
in it this time, and you must be very tired or you would n^t 
be such a coward, for rather than look back on what can’t 
be undone you had better try to find a way of escape! 
Well, I ’ll try to sleep. Ho one but Katy knows I ’m here, 
and she won’t betray me ; and to-morrow morning I ’ll 
see the papers, and if they have been taken it will be in, 
and in large letters too.” 

Morning came, and Miss Hogg inquired of the clerk 
if her maid had come. 

^^Ho, ma’am,” was his answer, ^^but some baggage came 
yesterday evening, and a telegram, which I suppose, of 
course, the chambermaid gave you; it came before you 
did.” 

have received no telegram. How very careless of 
the maid ! My servant is probably ill, and has telegraphed 
me to apprise me of the fact. Where is the telegram?” 
asked Miss Hogg, excitedly, with a flushed face, to think 
that a telegram should have come and she had not received 
it. Something dreadful must have happened, and if she 
had received it last night things might have been set right, 
who knows? 

The clerk had really forgotten to give it to the maid, 
and, pretending to go in search of her, he soon came back 
with it, looking almost as uneasy as Miss Hogg herself, 
for he» feared that the telegram being important, an 
investigation plight take place, and he would surely be 


220 


MISS HOGG 


dismissed for accusing the maid of not having delivered 
the telegram which she had not received from him. 

Miss Hogg made a grab for it and was going back to 
her room to read it^ guessing that the clerk would read her 
thoughts, for if something shocking had happened she 
would not be able to control her feelings; her face would 
betray her — when the clerk ran after her with another 
telegram which had just arrived. As she turned round 
the messenger was just running out of the hotel. ^^0, it 
must be very serious/^ she thought, as she took it from the 
clerk, who seemed more and more frightened. Poor Miss 
Hogg felt for the first time her legs giving way under 
her, and she trembled in all her limbs ; her hands shook so 
that she could hardly open the telegram. She had re- 
mained at the foot of the stairs; she felt that she would 
never be able to go up; looking over her shoulder to see 
if Walgrave was not already there to arrest her, she 
managed to open the last telegram, knowing that it must 
be of more consequence to her than the first. She read 
as follows: 

^Tor God^s sake hurry here ; you will understand I am 
dying; your presence might save me; if I am dead John 
will meet you at the corner, and if you donH see him there 
hurry to the house. Katy.^^ 

Miss Hogg was a brave woman, as* we know, and she 
felt that she must act, not give way to fears; she could 
see that there was still hope, or Katy would have simply 
told her to escape. She had recovered her nerve, and she 
asked the clerk at what time the train left for London. 
^Gn ten minutes, ma^am,*^ he answered. ^^The station 
is just across the street. 

Miss Hogg ran upstairs as supple as a deer; no more 
weakness now; she was all fire and ready for action; in 
a few minutes she was down again saying, ^^My servant is 
dying; if I had only received the telegram last night 
She walked across the street to the station just in time 
to get her ticket. 

It was a fast train, and yet she had never been in one 
that seemed to go so slowly. Would it never get there? 
And what could have happened to prevent Kat/s coming 
to her? Was she alone detained, and had Jerry, his 
mother, and the child escaped? Ho, no, no; Katy would 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


221 


have hinted as much. They must all be in great danger. 
Most likely Jerry had sent his mother and Lady Florence 
away from the house and had stayed there himself waiting 
for her. No, that could nT be it, for her telegram said 
that Jerry would be at the corner should she be dead, which 
meant, of course, arrested. But Jerry must have expected 
her in the night, or very early this morning, and, not 
seeing her, must have tired of waiting, or even might 
have been recognized and arrested. 

Walgrave, you are more clever than I thought 
you! 0, my heart, I would rather have been found out 
by Mathew ! Chance must have put you on Katyas track, 
not your cleverness, for if I could outwit Mathew as I 
have done, I could easily outwit you, and Katy is no fool ; 
so it must be your luck, that ^s all. But all is not lost, 
according to Katy; if I could only get there in time she 
seems to think that my presence could alter matters. Well, 
at last, here we are f as the train ran into the station, and 
calling a cab she was soon in the Strand, for Euston 
Station is not far from it. She stopped the cab at the 
corner, dismissed it, and looked about for Jerry, but no 
Jerry was there. Was it a good sign, or had he been 
arrested unknown to Katy? If so. Miss Hogg, by going 
to the house, would run into the trap set for her by 
Walgrave. 

x\ll these thoughts flashed through her head as she 
stood at the corner for a minute, and her clear and clever 
brain formed another plan. She said to herself, ^Tf I am 
to be caught it tvill not be in such a clumsy trap; why, 
that would be running into it with my eyes wide open; if 
T have to lay down my arms I will at least make another 
effort to save myself and those who have served me, and I 
can best do it by remaining free, there ^s no doubt about 
that. If it was very dark I could approach the house near 
enough to see if there ^s anyone on the watch for me ; but 
as it is bright daylight it can’t be done; so here goes: 
where there ’s a will there ’s a way,” and going into a 
doorway, she took out her tablet and wrote on one of the 
leaves: ^^Katy, darling, can I see you at the back door? I 
have enlisted for a soldier and I want to say good-by, 
mavoumeen. I dare not come to the front door for fear 
of your mistress, who is a real she-devil and can’t bear 


222 


MISS HOGG 


the sight of me. Yours with lots of kisses, which I wish 
to give, not send. Patrick Eiley.^^ 

‘^There, that ^11 do/^ said Miss Hogg; ^‘^she^ll know 
my writing and manage to warn me if there ^s danger. 
Now for a messenger and seeing a small boy going 
along with a milk jug, she called to him and said, ^^Here, 
my boy, take this note to No. 71 as you pass by, and I ^11 
give you this sixpence.’^ 

^‘Yes, mum, I will;’^ and taking the note and the six- 
pence he went off, and Miss Hogg saw him going up the 
steps of the house where Katy was supposed to be. 

Then, going around the block. Miss Hogg found herself 
in a lane just at the back of the row of houses, one of 
which w^as 71, and hiding in one of the back doors behind 
some ash barrels, she watched to see who would come out 
of the back door; if it was Katy she would come out of 
her hiding place, but if Walgrave, or another man, she 
would stay where she was until he had gone in again, and 
then — well, she would find some other means to com- 
municate with Katy. She heard the back door unbolted; 
she peeped between two barrels behind which she was 
crouching, and saw, not Katy but a man, who looked up 
and down the lane, and even stepped into the middle 
of it, and seemed very much disappointed. Miss Hogg 
almost fancied that it was Jerry, but not being sure, she 
dared not show herself, for Walgrave might have dis- 
guised himself to entrap her if he had suspected that the 
note came from her; so she would wait. 

The man did not stay long, but went in again, and 
another figure appeared, and looked up and down the 
lane, as the man had done, but this time Miss Hogg came 
out of her hiding place, which was not a pleasant one; 
she had recognized her maid Katy, and, hurrying towards 
her, they both disappeared through the back door. 

Miss Hogg’s first question was, ^^Have you Lady 
Florence yet?” 

‘^^Yes ; but let us get into the house, for if the landlady 
saw you coming in the back way she would think it strange 
and might suspect something wrong.” 

""^Where is she?” 

^^At the front door, talking to Jerry. I noticed her 
thorp, wd was talking to her when J erry came to the back 


tjDHE A:M^RiCAiT 


223 


door, but he soon came back making signs that he had not 
seen you, and meeting him half way in the hall, I put 
your note into his hand and said, ^Show it to the landlady,^ 
and I could hear them laughing as I ran into the yard. 
But wait ; you ^11 have to hide here in the wash-house till 
I get her away from the hall, and we ^11 go upstairs.^^ 

She locked Miss Hogg up in the wash-house, and 
putting her apron to her eyes, went upstairs sobbing. 

^Toor girV^ said Jerry, ^^she lost her sweetheart; 
I must tell the nurse to comfort her."^^ 

He left the landlady to go back to her basement, while 
he went upstairs and met Katy on the first turning. She 
said, ^^If the coast is clear take that key and open the 
wash-house quick — she^s there.^^ 

He obeyed, and Miss Hogg was soon listening to an 
account of what had happened during her absence. Katy 
made her start when she whispered to her, ‘^^We have one 
of the detectives here.^^ 

^^What ! And you have brought me here ? You must be 
mad, Katy. Was that your reason for sending for me, 
to have me arrested with all the rest of you? Where is 

her^ 

^^n Jerry^s bedroom.^^ 

Jerry entered at that moment and said, ^^Miss Hogg, 
this is no time for explanations ; Katy will tell you later on. 
The fact is that I have a detective here in my room under 
lock and key, and I want to know what is to be done 
with him. If he was a rabbit I M twist his neck ; but as 
it is, I canT very well do that; and if we let him loose 
he fil be after us with a gang of detectives before we can 
say Jack Eobinson.^^ 

^^Do you think there are others near?^^ asked Miss 
Hogg, fiushed with excitement at finding herself cornered, 
so to speak. 

^^Ko, Miss Hogg, I have been watching all night, and 
no suspicious person has approached the house.^^ 

^^Well, listen to me; we have no time to waste. Have 
you sent your luggage to Hastings 

^^Yes, miss, and yours to Dover.^^ 

know, I know, I was told so at the hotel. Bring 
your mother here.^^ 

Jerry left the room and soon returned with his mother. 


224 


MISS Hodd 


Mrs. Jerry/^ whispered Miss Hogg, ^^keep your 
wits about you, and everything will come out right. Wrap 
up the child so that her hair canH be seen, and take the 
next train for Hastings, where you will find your luggage 
at the Antwerp steamer office. There is a boat leaving 
for Antwerp to-night ; take a second class cabin, and when 
3/0U reach Antwerp go to the Ursuline Convent. I will 
give you a note and money for the mother superioress. 
They keep a school ; you will leave her there, and explain 
to her that it is to save her from the gypsies, and that 
I will soon come myself and take her away. She is not 
to tell her real name ; mind that you impress that strongly 
upon her mind.""^ 

understand. Miss Hogg.^^ 

^^ISTor must she mention my name. Invent whatever name 
you wish for her parents — or wait — it might be best for 
me to do it in my note. I am so excited that I hardly 
know what I am doing. Suppose we call her Isabelle 
Eeynolds — that will do— and you, her nurse, Mrs. Martin. 
ISTow go and get the child ready while I write.^^ 

Katy had brought writing materials to her mistress, 
who soon had the note ready for Mrs. Martin, as we shall 
now call her. 

She soon appeared with Lady Florence wrapped up 
so that no one would have recognized the elegant little 
lady who was seen in the park. Miss Hogg spoke very 
kindly to her and kissed her fondly, for, strange as it 
may seem, she was beginning to feel attached to her. 
Giving Mrs. Martin money, she told her to go on foot 
for a block or so, and then take a cab for the station for 
Hastings. 

^‘^But where am I to go when the young lady is at 
school 

^‘^ 0 , I had forgotten. Take a room somewhere in the 
town. DonT mention that you have put a child to school, 
but leave your address at the convent, where I shall 
write as soon as I possibly can. Now go, and for 
goodness sake, donT waste time. Your son will rejoin you 
later on. Is the coast clear, Jerry she asked as he 
made his appearance. 

^^Yes, miss, I have been on the lookout/^ 


fiJi) AMEKlOAi^- HEIRESS S25 

^^Then go down and see that the landlady does n^t see 
your mother leave the house/^ 

He went, and was soon heard talking to her in the 
back yard. Katy carried the child downstairs and saw 
her and Mrs. Jerry safely out of the house, and then 
returned to her mistress to learn what was to be done 
with the detective. She was in constant fear of hearing 
heavy footsteps coming up the stairs and proving to be 
those of more detectives in search of the one who had 
disappeared. 

Jerry came for orders concerning the poor fellow whom 
he had bound and locked in his room, and but for whom 
they would all have been far away by this time. Jerry 
was beginning to have visions of a prison cell, and had 
been sorry more than once that he had undertaken to 
serve Miss Hogg in her revenge; but he saw no way out, 
thqugh he felt he was sinking deeper and deeper into 
danger. He realized what would be his punishment for 
having taken part in the abduction of Lady Florence, and 
it gave him energy to go on. But what was he to do with 
a real live detective? He was at a loss to say; so he 
made Katy send for her mistress to advise them, and now 
he awaited her orders. 

She said, ^^We have no time to lose. Has this fellow 
seen Katy?^^ 

^^Ko, ma’am.” 

^^Very good; it isn’t as bad as it might be. You 
haven’t hurt him, have you?” 

^^Ko, miss; he’s only a boy of about sixteen; I could 
manage him myself with one hand ; but he ’s clever, and 
if we let him go we ’re lost. It was him who betrayed me 
before, so he must not be allowed to leave the house; not 
yet, at least.” 

^^We shall have to give him a sleeping draught, for you 
may depend upon it that as soon as he has guessed that 
you have left the house he ’ll make himself heard.” 

^^True, miss; though we must be careful not to give 
him an overdose, and kill him ; that would never do.” 

^^0, no fear of that ; we ’ll give him what we gave 
Lady Florence ; he ’ll sleep at least twelve hours and then 
he ’ll awake quite stupefied and won’t know where he 
is for some hours ; so take this bottle and saturate a hand- 


226 


MISS Hoaot 


kerchief well with the liquid and hold it to his nose till 
he goes off to sleep ; then untie him and lock the door for 
fear that some one might go in, and, thinking him dead, 
would make a fuss before we are safe. Now hurry and let 
us be offr 

Jerry left the room. 

^^We need not wait for him,^^ remarked Katy, who 
was in a hurry to be gone ; ^^everything is all right now.^^ 

won^t go before Jerry comes back and tells me so,^^ 
replied Miss Hogg. have no wish to be sent for again, 
sure. I wish to goodness I never had had a hand in it, 
that I do.^^ 

^^So do said Katy; ^H^m getting afraid.^^ 

^^Ah, you shut up ; you ^re always afraid where there ^s 
danger ; all you want is the fun. Well, don^t you think that 
it will be great fun if we can only escape from these 
detectives ? It will be something to tell our grandchildren 
fifty years from now.^^ 

Katy could n^t help laughing and admiring her mistress 
for her cleverness and great courage in time of danger. 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


221 


CHAPTEE XXXIII. 

Jerry, alone in his room, wished the job done, and 
himself far away, fearing to be interrupted and discovered 
at any moment; he certainly did not relish the idea of 
drugging Jack. Should he overdose him he was sure to 
be accused of murdering him, and again Miss Hogg would 
escape, for, though he could say that it was done by her 
orders, he was not a child to be forced into doing what he 
was not willing to do. He felt that he was getting deeper 
and deeper into her power, and he saw no way of retreating 
with safety. He opened his door softly, hoping to find 
Jack asleep and be able to administer the drug without 
another struggle with him, for he knew that Jack would 
not submit tamely to the operation, even bound as he was. 
So, hearing nothing, he supposed that poor Jaclf had 
fallen asleep, and pushing the door wide open, he saw to his 
dismay and horror that the room was empty. The shock 
was so great that he stood quite still and stunned for a 
moment, not knowing what to think or do. How he could 
have escaped was beyond him; the room was at the fifth 
story; there was no jumping out of the window; the door 
had not been opened; how had he gone, and where was 
he at the present moment ? He looked under the bed, even 
under the mattress and in the cupboard in the old press ; 
no Jack anywhere. ^^ 0 /’ thought he, would do a deal 
better to decamp and tell Miss Hogg to do the same, and 
not waste any time here looking for him, for very likely 
he will be here with a force of police. And how long 
has he been gone ? That ^s the question.^^ He turned round 
with the intention of returning to Miss Hogg and ap- 
prising her of this new misfortune, when, hearing footsteps 
on the stairs, he hid behind the door, having made up his 
mind to escape, if possible; if the owners of the footsteps 
were detectives he would allow them to enter the room 
in quest of him ; then, before they had time to turn round, 
he would dash out of the room, lock them in, and rush 
out of the houso. If it was not guarded outside ho might 


228 


MISS HOGG 


have a chance; slight, it is true, but still a chance. He 
would have no time to warn Miss Hogg and Katy, it is 
true, but that could not be helped, and likely they were 
both in custody by this time. 

All this passed through his mind in less than a minute ; 
he made himself as small as he could behind the door, 
holding it lightly against himself by the knob. Whoever 
was coming was entering the* room; and, to his great joy 
and surprise, he saw Miss Hogg and Katy, who looked 
surprised at not finding Jerry there. 

^^You must have made a mistake, Katy,^^ said Miss 
Hogg; ‘^^this is not Jerry’s room.” 

^^Yes, it is; there’s something wrong, miss.” 

^^Yes,” whispered Jerry, from behind the door, and 
showing himself. Katy would have screamed, but he had 
taken her by the arm and clapped his hand on her mouth. 
^‘^Kot a word or we are all lost. The detective has escaped; 
how long ago I can’t tell, for I have n’t entered the room 
since five o’clock this morning.” 

Miss Hogg’s nerves must have been made of iron, for, 
though she gave a start at J erry’s sudden appearance, not a 
sound did she utter. Turning to Jerry, she asked him, 
‘^^Have you found out how he left the room?” 

^^Ko, miss, that^s what puzzles me; I think we had 
better decamp, for you may be sure that he will soon be 
here with the force of police.” 

^^Yes,” replied Miss Hogg, ^fif you are positive that 
he has left the house.” 

^^He must have done so, for he is nowhere here.” 

Miss Hogg had been inspecting the room, and had to 
admit that no one but themselves were in the room. 

^TIow did he get loose ? — It ’s beyond me,” said Jerry. 

^^Look here,” said Miss Hogg; ^fit is evident that he 
has cut the ropes you fastened him with by rubbing them 
on this old iron fender ; see, there ’s blood on it, and on 
the floor too !” She bent down to examine it, when all at 
once she lifted her finger as a signal for silence; at the 
same time a smile played on her lips, and, without a word, 
she pointed up the chimney; then, rising, she whispered, 
^Tile all you can into the grate ; he ’s up there ; I heard 
him breathe.” Then aloud, ^^Well, John, the fellow is 
really gone, and the sooner we leave the better,” 


THE AMEJUCAJSr HEIRESS 


229 


ma’am/^ said Jerry, with a wink of understand- 
ing, and Miss Hogg and her maid hurried out of the 
room and out of the house without meeting the landlady. 
They walked for a short distance, and then, taking a cab, 
were driven to the station. Miss Hogg laughing heartily. 

^^Well, I never! I did have a fright this time, for if 
he had escaped, as he wants us to think he had, we would 
have been met either by Walgrave or some other detective, 
and finding us in Jerry’s company, we would have been 
arrested for sure. ISTow I dare them to arrest us ! We are 
going to Dover, and from there to Paris ; we have n’t the 
child nor anything suspicious with us ; the boy did n’t see 
us, so he can’t recognize us were he to meet us. They 
may suspect, but that is not enough. It has already cost 
Lady Montgomery four thousand pounds for having sus- 
pected me ; but it is a blessing that I saw or at least heard 
the boy, for as soon as we left the room he would have 
come down, and, the door having been left unlocked, he 
would have been in the street in a jiffy 1 Then good-by to 
all my plans. But here we are at the station. Get two 
tickets for Dover. Hurry; the train will be in in five 
minutes;” looking at her watch as she spoke. 

Jerry, as soon as Miss Hogg and her maid had left, 
piled up all he could find into the grate, up the chimney, 
without uttering a word; then, drawing up the table and 
the bedstead, he jammed them hard against the fireplace, 
so that it was impossible for Jack to get out without 
help. ^^JSTow,” said Jerry, loud enough for Jack to hear, 
^^you have gone up the chimney of your own accord, and 
there you must stay. I ’m going to sit here, and if you 
should take it into your head to call out I ’ll light the fire.” 
Having said this he walked out of the room on tiptoe, 
closing and locking the door without noise, went down- 
stairs, paid the landlady what was due her, said good-by 
and left the house, leaving poor Jack to get out of the 
chimney the best way he could. 

But how had clever Jack got himself into Jerry’s power 
so completely? He and Mathew had gone in pursuit of 
Miss Hogg to the railway station, each taking a cab, as we 
have already related. Mathew missed him at the station 
and had n’t seen him since, but he had n’t felt uneasy 
about him, knowing him to be able to take care of himself^ 


230 


MISS HOGfG 


But it seems that he had been mistaken as to Jack’s 
capacities, or how could he have found himself in the pre- 
dicament he was now in? Had all this occurred a day 
later Walgrave would have arrived in time to fulfill his 
grandest anticipations and would have caught Miss Hogg 
and all her accomplices in the snuggest way; but, un- 
fortunately, his ill luck seemed to follow him still. He 
knew nothing of Miss Hogg’s having lived in this part of 
London, Mathew having kept it to himself, fearing that 
Walgrave would supplant him, and get the honor and 
reward in this difficult case; and he had only told him 
on his return from Liverpool, when he had failed so 
completely in following Miss Hogg. 

During his absence Walgrave had been hunting for 
Jerry with as little success, so the two detectives had 
agreed to work together and act frankly with each other, 
hoping by this means to be more successful than here- 
tofore. 



THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


331 


CHAPTER XXXIV. 

What had happened to Jack after Mathew had lost 
sight of him at the railway station? 

Jerry had seemed very much afiEected at Miss Hogg’s 
departure^ and wiping his eyes on the sleeve of his livery, 
had driven away, but not before Jack had remarked the 
mocking smile that had illumined his face, which, to J ack, 
had seemed to contradict his first emotion of sorrow, which 
he had displayed so openly. 

Xow Jack could not tell if this man had acted the 
hypocrite toward Miss Hogg by his display of sorrow at 
her departure, or if it had all been a prearranged plan 
between mistress and servant to blind Mathew, whom they 
may have recognized. Had J erry gone away with a sorrow- 
ful face Jack would have thought no more of him; but 
having followed him, he had seen what he supposed was 
a mocking smile, and he thought, ’ll leave Miss Hogg 
to Mr. Mathew, and will find out who this fellow is.” 
So he gave orders to his cabman to follow Jerry’s 
carriage, and so had arrived at Lady Florence’s lodgings. 
But Jerry had not been a poacher for nothing; it was his 
nature to be always on the alert, and since he had left 
the steady noise of wheels behind him he had stopped at 
a public house so as to allow this cab to pass him; it 
had passed, but, to his horror, he had recognized the boy 
who had nicely betrayed him once before ; so he remained 
just long enough to swallow a glass of brandy, of which 
he really felt the need, for he knew that danger was near, 
and he would have to use all his wits if he hoped to escape 
the trap that the boy was leading him into. Before 
he left the public house he had seen the cab repass and 
turn the corner just behind his carriage, and it would 
be of no use to try to give him the slip, situated as he was, 
with a carriage ; so he came out boldly, jumped on his box 
and drove away to the house, in front of which was a van 
loaded with trunks, boxes, and all kinds of luggage. 
Jerry jumped down, and accosting one of the men who 


232 


MISS HOGa 


were carrying the trunks from the house to the van^ said, 
^^You take this here carriage to the stables/^ ran upstairs 
to his mother, and in a few words explained what he 
feared. 

^^Is he alone she asked, referring to Jack, 
don^t know; he may be.^^ 

^^Well, you must entice him here if you can, not by 
force, my son, but by cunning ; if he is alone there is still 
a chance of escape for us ; go ; donH lose a moment.^^ 

Jerry had gone down to the van and made himself 
very busy with the trunks so as to give himself a chance 
to see if the boy was near; he saw no cabs, but he saw the 
boy walking about idly, gaping about like an idiot ; it was 
evident that he didn^t know Jerry for the same man he 
had betrayed to Walgrave, but he must have followed him 
simply because he had been seen with Miss Hogg, and 
Jerry rejoiced over the fact, and called to him, ^^Here, 
my lad, do you want to make a shilling ? If so, come here 
and help me ; I ^m half mad with these trunks. 

The boy approached, asking, ^^What do you want me 
to dor 

want you to turn all these trunks on end so that 
I can stick on the tags ; perhaps you T1 be able to do that 
too; what do you say?^^ 

^^0, I can do thaV^ Jack replied, rejoicing at his luck; 
it was more than he had expected. He would be able to 
see where these things were going, and he thought it 
strange that Miss Hogg had not sent all her luggage 
together. He had seen that morning one van full leave 
the house, but somehow it had appeared to him that the 
house was higher up; but it could not be; he must have 
made a mistake ; so he began to help J erry to set the trunks 
on end. 

^^How,^^ said Jerry, ^Ve have more trunks yet; I ^11 go 
upstairs and fetch them and will bring you the labels 
at the same time.’^ 

Jerry ran upstairs, and soon came down with a large 
trunk on his back, threw it into the van, and was about 
to return to the house when Jack called out, ^^Where are 
the labels 

^^0, the devil take the labels i I forgot them ; you can 
come up and fetch them,^^ he replied, seeming annoyed 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


233 


at having to carry the trunks. look well carrying 
boxes, don’t I?” he said, as he went on ahead of the 
boy, who was only too glad to see what was going on 
inside the house. 

Jerry walked into a back room where there were more 
trunks with labels. 

^^Where are the labels ?” asked the boy, not in the least 
suspecting that he had walked into a trap. 

^^Wait,” replied Jerry; ‘^det’s take these boxes to the 
landing ; you can help me, and then I ’ll look for the 
labels.” 

Jack obeyed, and when all the luggage was out of the 
room Jerry went in again to fetch the labels. Jack following 
at his heels. Jerry slammed the door to as if by accident, 
pretending to be looking among old papers behind it. 

^‘^Well, devil take me, I can’t see them and I had a 
whole bunch of them.” 

Jack was searching also, not so much for the labels as 
for any scraps of writing that might have been left among 
these papers, for he was a real detective, always on the 
alert to discover people’s secrets, and at that moment 
he felt perfectly happy thinking of what he would have 
to tell Mr. Walgrave, for he had succeeded beyond his 
most sanguine expectations — he was in the enemy’s camp, 
unsuspected by them. 0, but that was grand ! and a smile 
played on his lips which soon changed into a half- 
smothered groan, when he felt a heavy hand on his neck, 
as he was bending down at the time ; it came unexpectedly 
to him in the midst of his happy dreams; and another 
hand was clapped on his then smiling lips, and a voice 
which he fancied he had heard somewhere before — not 
that day — said in his ear, ^^You miserable spy, you won’t 
take my money and betray me ; if you utter one word I ’ll 
twist your neck as I would a rabbit’s,” giving him a 
good shake to make him understand that he would do 
what he threatened. 

Jack was thunderstruck, and saw at once that he 
was caught, and also that he had had too much confidence 
in himself in believing himself to be more clever than the 
man he had been following. He owned now, to his sorrow, 
that this coachman was more than a match for him in 
bodily strength and clevernQss^ and hQ mw that if ho 


234 


MISS HOGG 


was to escape it would not be by struggling with the man^ 
but by cunning; so he did not cry out after the 
first groau;, but remained perfectly still, with a look of 
defiance on his face which showed plainly that had he 
been a man there would have been a terrible struggle for 
liberty. He only said, ^^You Ye a sneak to have entrapped 
me so meanly.^^ 

Yi not going to waste words with you,^^ replied 
Jerry; H ^m going to tie you up;’^ as he produced some 
cords from a cupboard, with one hand, while with the 
other he held on to Jack’s neck, and in less than ten 
minutes had bound him hand and foot with a large 
towel over his mouth, leaving his nose free. 

It would be impossible to describe poor Jack’s 
feelings and disappointment, and, worse than all, no one 
knew where he was. Mathew had gone after Miss Hogg 
and had expected him to follow, so he had no hopes in 
that quarter. Walgrave had gone to look for Jerry. 
Then it came upon him like a flash. This man was 
Jerry; he had betrayed himself by using his own natural 
voice when he had laid his hand so lovingly on his neck. 
WqII, he had made a discovery he might use later on, but 
he had no hope in Walgrave, for he had told him that very 
morning that he had no idea where Miss Hogg had gone 
after leaving the hotel, but that he suspected Mathew of 
knowing and of keeping the fact to himself. So poor 
Jack would have to depend upon himself to make his 
escape, but how he was to manage it was more than he 
could say. 

Jerry threw him on the bed and left the room, locking 
the door after him. 

Jack now knew why Jerry had removed all the luggage 
from the room; he could hear him taking it down and 
likely putting on the addresses, while he, poor Jack, 
would never know where it was sent. 0, how he blamed 
himself for having allowed Jerry to trap him as he had 
done ! What business had he to put himself in his power ? 
Why had he not been satisfied to watch him from a 
distance, and not walk into the lion’s den as he had 
done? The poor boy fretted and worried himself to such 
an extent that the perspiration rolled down his face like 
beads; he tried with all his might to break the ropes that 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


235 


bound him, but he might have saved his strength for a 
better purpose, as he only tightened the knots in the 
rope, which was strong, such as is used to tie trunks ; it also 
cut into the flesh; and as he felt his helplessness he cried 
with rage, biting the towel that covered his mouth, and 
wondering what they intended doing with him, and how 
long he was to stay there. Had Jerry gone away and 
left him? If he had been sure that Jerry had left the 
house he would have managed to make some kind of a 
noise to attract the landlady, or some one else who would 
release him; but he feared that should Jerry still be in the 
house he would be running a great risk ; so he waited, and 
wisely, too ; for just as it was getting dark Jerry came in 
with some food, and, locking the door, he put the tray on 
the table, and untying Jack’s hands and removing the 
towel from his mouth he said, ^‘^How, youngster, sit up and 
eat, but don’t try any of 3'our tricks on me, for if I see 
any signs of your trying to either escape or call out, by 
Jingo, I ’ll pitch you out of the window, which is five 
stories high, and unless you can fly you will come to 
grief.” 

^‘^But what are you going to do with me?” asked the 

boy. 

^^Wait ana see, my lad; your inquisitiveness has already 
led you into trouble ; so eat and go to sleep ; I ’m going 
to stay with you all night and to-morrow we shall see.” 

Jerry having carried the trunks down, addressed some 
of them to Dover, and others to Hastings, not daring to 
put down Antwerp before he reached there. 

In the meantime Katy had arrived and had been told 
how matters stood. She was shocked and frightened; 
her knees trembled and gave way under her, but after 
details were given her courage returned, though she 
would give no orders concerning Jack until she heard 
from Miss Hogg; so she had sent the telegram to Dover, 
knowing that if everything went right she would arrive 
that night, and, as we have seen, she did not receive it. 
Jerry had watched for her all night, going to his room oc- 
casionally to see if Jack was safe. He had tied him up 
again and he seemed asleep a part of the night. As Miss 
Jlogg did not come another telegram had been sent early 
in the morning. 


m 


MISS iioaa 


Jerry, his mother, and Katy were very anxious. What 
could have happened to Miss Hogg to keep her away 
at such a time, and what were they to do with the 
boy detective? They were in a fever of suspense, for a 
search would be made for the boy, and what would happen 
to them? Every step they heard made them start, and 
when the little boy brought the note for Katy she trembled 
all over; but her fears soon changed into joy as she 
recognized Miss Hogg’s writing. After reading it she 
told Jerry that Miss Hogg was at the back door, and 
that he must run in while she kept the landlady talking, 
running down after her she called to her, asking, as an 
excuse, who brought the note; and going to the front 
door, she looked up and down the street, and the landlady 
pointed out to her the small boy who had brought it, 
while Jerry had gone to the back door, as we have seen; 
and when Jerry came back and showed the landlady the 
note that Katy had handed him for that purpose, the 
landlady had laughed heartily, thinking that Katy had 
gone to meet her sweetheart ; and seeing Katy return after 
a few minutes, with her apron over her head, sobbing, 
had strengthened her belief yet more. 


AMERtOAK HEIRESS 


237 


CHAPTEE XXXV. 

The next morning, that is the morning after Jack went 
tip the chimney, Mathew went to the railway station 
and made inquiries about the lad, but no one had seen 
him; so he hunted up the cabman and learned from him 
how he had been ordered to follow the same carriage they 
^ had followed to the station, though there was no one in it ; 
and how the coachman had gone to have a drink in a 
public, and they had to go on ahead so as not to be sus- 
pected of following; then, while the coachman was inside 
they had gone back and hidden away around the corner 
till they had seen him come out again; he looked neither 
to the right nor to the left, but jumped on his box and 
drove away, and they followed till he stopped at 
the house. They had seen him in the morning, maybe 
a little lower down, it seemed to him; the lad got down 
from the cab, paid him, saying, donT want you any 
more,^^ and that ^s the last he had seen of him. 

Mathew gave the cabman half a crown, and, jumping 
into the cab, said, ^^Drive on to the same house.^^ 

Xow let us see how Walgrave is getting on in his search. 
He arrived early at the house that Miss Hogg had occupied 
with her mother, and was received by the landlady, who told 
him that her tenants had left two days before for America. 
They had been very profitable to her, and she was sorry 
she had lost them. Walgrave looked blank for there was 
no clew there. The landlady spoke sincerely; there was 
no doubting her. 

^^But,^^ he asked, ^^did not Miss Hogg come back the 
same night for something she had forgotten 

^^Xo, sir; nothing had been left here. Why do you 
ask? Has Miss Hogg complained of having lost any- 
thing 

^^Xo, no; 1 must have been mistaken, that’s all; 
thank you. Good morning.” And he walked out, not 
knowing where to look for news of Miss Hogg, as he 
muttered, ought to have known better than to have 


MISS MOGa 


238 

come here looking for her ; she would never have c6me back 
here; but where am I to look? I am really unlucky, or 
getting dull. That Mathew will get ahead of me yet; he 
will find Jack, who must be on Miss Hogg^s track, and 
afraid to lose her ; but why did nT he write to me ? — for 
Jack belongs to me. Hello ! What ^s all this crowd here 
for?^^ as he noticed a crowd of people a few doors below. 

must see, since I have nothing else to do till I get a 
clew, and Mathew is to meet me here.^^ So he marched 
right into the midst of the crowd as though he had a right 
to be there; and, entering the house, met the landlady in 
the hallway, who asked him if he were a doctor. ^^Yes,^^ 
replied Walgrave, not wishing to have it known that he 
was a detective, and very anxious to know what was going 
on upstairs. 

‘^^Come this way, then and she preceded him upstairs 
to the fifth story, opening the door of a back room where 
many people stood around something black — a small sized 
man, moaning with pain. Yo one seemed in a hurry to 
touch him; the fioor was covered with soot, the furniture 
all in disorder. It looked to Walgrave as if the black 
object had rolled down the chimney, and he thought, ^^This 
is as much a matter for the police as for the doctor.^^ 

Walgrave walked straight up to the object, the crowd 
making room for him ; he bent over it ; yes, it was a man, 
or, more correctly speaking, a boy, with his eyes wide 
open. As soon as he saw Walgrave he brightened up and 
whispered, Ht^s me, Mr. Walgrave; donT you know me?’^ 

Walgrave gave a start; he had recognized Jack^s voice, 
and turning to the landlady he said, ^^Send one of your 
servants for water and towels and leave the room; I must 
be alone with this boy.^^ She obeyed him, and he soon 
had Jack’s face clean. He sent one of the servants to buy 
a new shirt, etc., for him. He soon had him clean; his 
hands were badly cut, but otherwise he had sustained no 
injury. A good wash had relieved him of the suffocating 
sensation that had oppressed him; the fresh air and the 
sight of Mr. Walgrave revived him entirely, though he 
looked sheepish, for he feared to have lost Mr. Walgrave’s 
good opinion ; he felt that he had acted like a fool. 

^^How, my boy,” said the detective, ^Vhen you have 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 239 

had something to eat you will tell us how you come to 
be here and in such a state/^ 

^Thank you, Mr. Walgrave, I was afraid that you 
would be angry with me. I have not eaten since the 
night before last, and I hn famished.^^ 

Walgrave was shocked; he asked the landlady for a 
private room and a good breakfast for the boy, telling 
her that she would be well paid for her trouble. J ack was 
soon eating like two men ; he was still at it when a knock 
was heard at the front door, and soon after a step ascending 
the stairs, which stopped outside the door where Walgrave 
and Jack were. After a hurried knock, the door opened, 
Mathew appeared on the threshold, and for a moment 
remained there transfixed with astonishment at seeing 
AValgrave there and Jack eating away as if he wanted to 
take im enough for a week to come 

^m blamed if I can make you ouV^ he at last ex- 
claimed, coming in and taking a chair. Turning to 
Walgrave, he said, ^^So you\e found him, eh; where was 
her 

don’t know myself how he came here,” replied Wal- 
grave ; ^^he will tell us as soon as he has satisfied his hunger. 
The poor fellow has had nothing to eat for nearly two days, 
he tells me. And how did you find your way here, 
Mathew ?” 

^^0, I found the cabman who brought back Jack 
from the station where he had last seen the boy; so I 
came to investigate and I find you here lost in admiration 
at his capacity for making food’ disappear. Have you 
bet on him?” He laughed heartily, for he was pleased 
to have found the boy, and he expected to hear great 
things from him concerning Miss Hogg, and he longed to 
know how he came to be two days without food. 

Poor Jack blushed with shame at the quantity he 
had eaten, and declared himself ready to relate all that had 
happened to him since he had seen Mr. Mathew at the 
station following Miss Hogg. As the reader already loiows 
what had happened up to the time that Jerry left Jack 
in his own room at about five o’clock, we will take up 
our story from that time. 

^W^ell,” said Mathew, ^Vhen the coachman that you 
say you had recognised as the man you saw at the coffee 


240 


MISS HOGG 


shop had left you so long that you thought he must have 
left the house, what did you do, my lad 

^^Yes,- tell us,^^ said Walgrave, who had listened very 
attentively to Jack^s recital. 

^^0, sir, it was so dreadful that I hate to think of it. 
I was so stiff, being tied up all night, and part of the daj 
before, and I was so enraged at being caught, that I cried 
a good deal, and felt such a hatred towards that man 
that if I had had the chance I would have killed him.^’ 
^^Tut, tut/’ said Mathew; ^^you dl never make a good 
detective if you feel like that. For my part, the harder 
a case is the better I like it, as long as I succeed at the 
end ; and when I have to hunt down a clever rogue I often 
admire his tactics and sometimes profit by them in another 
case. That ’s how we get our experience, my boy. But 
go on or Mr. Walgrave will get impatient.^^ 

^^No, Mathew, I admire your coolness in a difficult 
case, and I often wish that I could imitate you and not let 
my temper run away with my better judgment, but I 
caiiT ; consequently I often make bad blood and mistakes.^^ 
‘^‘^Come, Mr. Walgrave, that^s too good; you don’t 
expect me to swallow that as I would an oyster; why, I 
can't hold a candle to you, as every one knows; I do my 
best, but I ’m not so vain as to think myself at the head 
of our force yet. Go on. Jack.” 

^^Well, after having a good cry I felt better, and I began 
to reflect that I ought to try to get away at any risk, and, 
if found, I could only be taken again, and no worse off than 
I was then; and if I could manage to escape before they 
left the house I would run to Mr. Walgrave and he might 
catch them yet. That thought gave me courage, and I 
managed to roll off the bed on to the floor with as little 
noise as possible; and I rolled about to find some sort 
of sharp instrument on which I could rub the cords that 
bound me so as to cut them ; I saw nothing but that old 
iron fender. I rolled myself there and managed to get 
it under me, and I began to saw away with all my might, 
and often rubbed my hands and wrists on it instead of 
the cord. I felt the blood running down my sleeves, but 
I was so angry that I did n’t mind in the least if I cut my 
wrist off. I felt no pain, though I do now. The cord was 
beginning to give way^ and after working abont an hour, 


THE AMERIOAH HEIRESS 


241 


which seemed twent 3 ^-foiir hours to me, it gave way 
entirely and my hands were free, but so numbed with 
having been tied so long, and by the effort I had made to get 
free, that at first I could n^t use them, no, not to have 
saved my life ; and I could n't even untie my feet for 
ever so long, do what I would. At last I did, and they 
were as bad as my hands had been. I felt mad with im- 
patience for I was losing time; the man might come in at 
any moment and all my labor would have gone for nothing. 

^^At last I stood up and began to look for a way to 
get out. I went to the window, but it was so high from 
the ground that I saw it would be madness to try that. 
Even if I had a rope long enough to reach the yard I could 
not have got down without being seen from the window 
beneath me, in the daytime as it was, and as I looked in the 
yard what did I see but the coachman going to the back 
door; so he hadn^t left the house. I trembled, for he 
might come up at any moment. But perhaps he was 
going away, for he opened the back door and went out, but 
he soon came in again and walked briskly toward the 
house as if he had forgotten something, or perhaps he 
was coming to me. Where could I hide? ISTot under 
the bed or in the cupboard, for he would be sure to look 
there. I had no time to unfasten the window, and had I 
done so he would never have believed that I had jumped 
down. So I went about the room like a rat in a trap, 
dancing with rage. 

^^At last I looked at the fireplace — would the chimney 
be large enough for me to get in ? I might hide there for 
a few moments till he had reached the room, and, making 
sure that I had escaped somehow, would leave the room, 
and not lock the door; then I could slip out and hide 
somewhere in the house till I could find a chance to get out. 

^^All this passed through my mind in less than a 
minute, and I forced myself into the chimney just high 
enough not to be seen, and waited at least ten minutes. I 
was on the point of coming down again when I heard the 
key turn in the lock ; I had n^t heard any footsteps ; still, 
some one was in the room looking for me, for I heard 
a voice say in a half whisper,^Where can he be? How 
long has he been gone ? 0, we are lost V Then some one 
else came in— two wpmen, by their voices— one came verjr 


242 


MISS HOGG 


near the chimney and I believe she must have guessed that 
I was there, though I had heard her say, ^0, he must have 
gone, so we had better go too/ Then some whispering, and 
the two women left. The man remained and began to 
stuff things up the chimney and drag the furniture about 
toward the fireplace, and I knew that he was piling up 
the furniture so that I could n’t come down without help. 
I had a mind to scream to attract the attention of some of 
the inmates of the house, but I soon realized that I could n’t 
be heard, being in the chimney, and the fireplace all 
stopped up, and at the fifth story too; so I stayed quite 
still, trusting to chance and my efforts to get free as soon 
as the man left the room; but my heart jumped into my 
mouth as I heard him say, ^You ’ve got up the chimney 
of your own accord, and there you shall stay ; and if you call 
out I ’ll light the fire.’ I believed the man would do it, 
for he might have said, ^How could I know anyone was 
in the chimney ?’ and no one would have blamed him ; and 
as I would have been dead I could n’t have told that he 
had made me a prisoner in his room, that I was trying to 
escape, and that he knew I was there. So I made no 
answer, thinking, T may as well die here as be murdered by 
him if I call out.’ ” 

^^But how did 3^ou get out?” asked Walgrave, im- 
patiently; ^That’s what I want to know.” 

’m coming to it,” replied J ack. 

I may as well say here that Jack’s recital was not given 
in these words, but to the same effect; for his English 
consisted of slang, accentuated with strong words which 
I would be sorry to write; he was a cunning street boy, 
clever but coarse and low in his ways, and certainly his 
language was anything but choice; it was very hard to 
understand and quite incomprehensible to refined, well 
brought-up people; so I have thought it best to use my 
own words in recording what had happened to Jack. 

Having explained that much I shall go on. with my 
story, leaving my readers to understand that Jack was 
anything but a well brought-up boy; still, he had a great 
and good opinion of himself, which was a drawback to 
him. If that had not been the case he would not have 
been caught by Jerry. 

^'Well, sir, I’m coming to it How long the man. 


tTHE AMERlCAlt HEIRESS 


243 


remained in the room I don^t know; for after the piling 
up of the furniture everything was quiet, and I believed 
that he was sitting there watching to prevent my coming 
down. I thought afterwards he must have left the room 
as soon as he had threatened me with lighting the fire 
if I dared to scream. However that may be, I waited, 
situated as I was, I can^t tell how long, for the time 
seemed much longer than it really was, and I was almost 
choked for want of air, and with the soot which blinded 
me and sent a prickly sensation down my threat. If 
I could only have had a glass of water how thankful 
I would have been ! But as I was not likely to get it until 
I got out I allowed myself to slip as far as it was possible 
for me to do, and came down on the handle of a broom, 
which was anything but a soft seat and made me halloo 
with pain; and in my descent I had brought down such 
a quantity of soot that I was half buried in it. I tried to 
kick the things out of the fireplace. I must have been 
standing on a large saucepan full of water, for some- 
thing gave way under my feet, and I found my feet deep 
in water getting thick with soot. I tried to bend down to 
remove it, after getting my feet out, and in doing so my 
face came in contact with a nail on which hung a frying 
pan, and it made the scratch you see on my right cheek.^^ 

^^Yes, and a deep one too,^^ said Mathew. 

^^Well, I managed to upset the saucepan, but it did n^t 
go far; it simply rolled against the furniture that closed 
the fireplace entirely, for it was a table, as I heard the 
landlady say later on; then the bedstead was against 
the table to keep it in its place. Well, I found out that 
I could n^t go any further, so I kicked and called out at the 
top of my voice, but no one came, so I left off for a while 
thinking perhaps every one was in bed, for it must have 
been night ; I ^d try and wait till morning when people 
would be about. So there I remained in a heap among 
the saucepans, kettles, brooms, and other rubbish, and, 
worse than all, the wet soot. I was so miserable and 
hungry, that putting my hand to my face I cried bitterly 
and swore vengeance on the man who was the cause of 
it all. I would kill him if ever I found him again, and 
I ground my teeth with rage, and bit at my coat sleeves to 
relieve my anger, but it only increased it and filled my 


244 


MISS HOGG 

mouth with soot and half choked me. I never found a 
night so long. 

^^At last I heard footsteps going down the stairs — I 
suppose the servants— and I began to halloo and kick for 
dear life. I heard some women screaming, and running 
down at breakneck pace ; then, after a while, during which 
I kept on bellowing and kicking, I heard a good many 
footsteps on the stairs, the door was tried, and a woman^s 
voice said, Where is the key? How came this room to 
be locked? It^s empty. You must have been dreaming, 
Mary.^ 

had stopped calling out to listen, but I began again 
with greater vigor. ^How, mum, do you hear it? Perhaps 
it ’s a ghost.'' ^Don't be a fool, Mary, there are no ghosts 
in the daytime; more likely it is one of the men that was 
helping to -carry the luggage yesterday ; he may have got 
drunk and gone to sleep in the empty room ; run down and 
get me my bunch of keys, I ''11 surely have one to fit.’ 
Mary ran down to obey her mistress, but in passing through 
the hall she heard the milkman at the front door, so she ran 
to open it and told the man that a drunkard had got 
himself locked up in a room upstairs — would he go up 
and help them? ^Certainly,’ he said, and after getting the 
keys Mary went up with him, leaving the front door open, 
and some of the passers-by, who had heard what Mary had 
told the milkman, stayed around the door and very soon 
there was a crowd — the same that attracted Mr. Walgrave. 
The landlady managed to unlock the door but was afraid to 
go in, and the milkman was also afraid, but he didn’t 
say so, and advised that they all go in together; but as 
the landlady saw her furniture all in confusion she raised 
her hands over her head and screamed out, ^My goodness 
gracious ! What has happened ? There ’s no one here, 
but everything is upset. Whoever did it? Hot the coach- 
man who occupied this room, for he was the nicest and 
quietest man alive.’ I called out, ^0, please do get me out, 
I ’m dying !’ Why, there ’s some one in the chimney,’ 
said the milkman; and they all helped to drag the fur- 
niture away, and as they removed the table I rolled down 
in the middle of the fioor with the saucepan and kettle, and 
dragged the poker and shovel with me in my descent, and 
there I remained, no one daring to approach me till you 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 245 

came, though I saw a good many people standing in 
the doorway. 

^^The landlady said something about going for a doctor, 
as I did n't move ; I could n’t. I had been cramped up in 
the same position so long that I wanted time to recover 
the use of my limbs; and that’s all I have to tell except 
that I ’ve been a fool to allow that fellow to trap me.” 

You ’re right,” replied Walgrave, ^^always keep your 
freedom, for one man in freedom is worth a thousand in 
captivity; so beware of ^mantraps, and fight for liberty to 
the last.” Happening to look at Mathew, who had a 
twinkle of merriment in his bright black eyes at the 
recollection of the fight they had had in Jerry’s room, 
they both laughed heartily. Jack thought they were 
laughing at his explanation and he looked sulky. 

^^Well, what are we to do now?” said Walgrave, as 
soon as he was able to speak. 

^Jf you don’t object,” said Mathew, ^Sve will have the 
landlady here and question her.” 

They rang the bell and asked the servant who appeared 
to ask her mistress to come up. She came. She was 
a ladylike person of middle age, dressed in black silk. 
When she came in she looked rather cautiously at the two, 
having already guessed that they were detectives, but 
she was at a loss to know if they were after the boy, and 
if that was the reason he had gone up the chimney; and 
yet that could hardly have been the case, for the first one 
who came would not have cared so well for the boy as he 
had done. 

Mathew gave her a chair and left the task of inter- 
rogating her to Walgrave, who said, ^^You had lodgers 
named Hogg — the mother and little girl — they left yester- 
day, did they not?” 

^^You are in error, sir,” answered the landlady; 
never had anyone of that very peculiar name. The people 
who left yesterday were a little girl of about eight years of 
age — a perfect lady; then her nurse, Mrs. Martin, and a 
man servant — a coachman, I believe, to the young lady’s 
family; his name was Smith.” 

^^Do you mean to say that the child was here with 
these two servants alone?” 

^^Well, yes, sir, the greater part of the time; though 


246 


MISS HOGG 


sometimes I have seen a young lady of about twenty — ^her 
sister, I was told by the nurse — come with a carriage to 
take her for a ride, but not often, though she visited her 
nearly every day; also her maid; and they brought toys 
and things to the child/^ 

^^But why was she kept in such close retirement — did 
they tell you, madam?” 

^*^0, yes, she had been ill and had to be kept quiet 
till she had quite recovered her strength.” 

^^Did not her mother visit her also?” 

^^hTo, sir; she had returned to America before the 
cliild was taken ill; but she was well cared for.” 

‘AYhat was her name?” 

^‘^Isabelle de Courtney.” 

AYalgrave gave a start as he heard the name, but 
continued : 

^^Did the child say that that was her name?” 

^^No, sir; but I have heard her nurse call her Miss 
Isabelle, and the child never said that it was not her 
name.” 

^^Did she look unhappy?” 

"Certainly not; how could she? Her slightest wishes 
w’ere obeyed. She did n’t seem to wish to go out unless 
her sister came for her in the carriage. Why do you 
ask, sir?” 

"0, nothing, nothing ; I have made a mistake ; that ’s 
all. I thank you very much for the information you 
have given me, and I am really sorry to have troubled you. 
Here is five pounds to pay for the damage done to your 
room, and for the boy’s breakfast;” and he and Mathew 
arose, knowing that they had heard all that they wanted 
to, and that this child was really Lady Florence and 
that the nurse and coachman were Jerry and his mother; 
and they left the house with Jack, not knowing what would 
be their next move. 

The matter was discussed in Walgrave’s room, and they 
came to the conclusion that it would be best to wire to 
all the stations and find out, if possible, if any people 
answering the description of Miss Hogg and her associates 
had been seen; also to the office of every steamer that 
had left port since the day before, or was about to leave, 
for some time to come, and arrest any of them that might 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


247 


have a little girl of eight years with them. This was con- 
sidered the best course to pursue until they had a clew; 
so Jack was sent to the telegraph office for that purpose, 
and Walgrave and Mathew remained to discuss what 
had lately happened. 

^^What puzzles me,^’ said Walgrave as soon as Jack had 
left the room, ^^is that, from what we have heard. Lady 
Florence seems reconciled to be with J erry and his 
mother and seems friendly with Miss Hogg. I wonder 
if it is another trick of Miss Hogg, and it is not Lady 
Florence any more than was the other one.^^ 

^^0, come, that would be too strong this time ; my belief 
is that we are on the right track at last ; if we can only get 
a clew we will run her down. The mother is quite innocent 
and has been ipade a tool of. How that she has gone to 
America with the real Isabelle de Courtney we will soon 
catch Miss Hogg with Lady Florence ; but I think it 
will be wise not to say anything to Lady Montgomery till 
we have succeeded.^^ 

^^You are right,^^ replied Walgrave; was on the 
point of saying so, for we have failed so often that 
I am ashamed ; so let us make sure of Lady Florence, and 
have her well in hand before we venture to write to Lady 
Montgomery.^^ 

^^Agreed,^^ said Mathew. 

Jack soon returned, bringing a lot of answers to the 
telegrams that had been sent, but only one was worth 
anything to the detectives. It was from Dover; it said 
that a lady with her maid, answering the description sent, 
had left the evening previous for Paris via Calais ; they had 
been staying at the British Hotel; nothing more was 
known; no fair little girl had been seen either in the 
company of the tall dark young lady, or with anyone 
else, but a watch had been set. 

^^Aha,^^ said Walgrave, impatiently; ^^she^s going to 
lead us another wild goose chase; I feel it; she will 
entice us to go after her while some one else will go 
another way with the young lady; she must be a devil 
incarnate. What a detective she would make!’^ 

Mathew laughed at Walgrave’s excitement and said, 
^^What a help she would be to her husband were he a 
detective! By Jove, if I were not already married I 


248 


MISS IIOGQ 


would go in for her ! IsTow there a chance for you, who 
are an old bachelor ; she dl make your fortune in less 
than no time/^ 

^^My dear fellow, there would be no show for me were 
I so disposed; if I had a title to my name it might be 
different, though I am no longer young — forty last month, 
my boy — and she can’t be much more than twenty; still, 
those Americans don’t look much to the man ; it ’s the title 
they want. Do you remember that old roue. Lord Brain- 
less, who married that young and pretty American girl 
last year ? He had n’t a penny, and had ruined his 
health to the last degree ; yet how glad she was to have 
him for the sake of being called Lady Brainless; and she 
actually told her mother that she must call her my lady. 
And yet it is said that Americans do not care for titles. Why, 
they would give their skins for one. But to return to 
Miss Hogg : I should be afraid of her. How fierce she can 
look at a fellow ! You have no idea. I wish you could have 
seen her ordering me out of her mother’s room. I felt like 
a fool when she pulled off my false beard.” 

‘^‘^What ! You don’t mean to say that Miss Hogg did 
that to you?” 

Hndeed she did; she is more like a trooper than like 
a young lady. 0, may I be preserved from such a wife, 
my boy ! ISTow, one of us will have to go after her — which 
shall it be, you or I ? To tell you the truth, I have a horror 
of going. I am positive she would try to make a fool of me 
again, and I don’t want to be made a fool of.” 

^^Well, I ’ll go;” said Mathew; ’m really attracted to 
her ; her clever tricks please me, and we are sure to run her 
down in the end. My opinion is that J erry and his mother 
will join her somewhere with the child, and if I follow her 
I will arrive there and net the whole lot; but I must 
have a letter from our captain so that I may enlist the 
French police in our interest; they are clever men. How 
I do wish that I could speak French! Of course they 
have interpreters, but that is never the same.” 

^^Well,” said Walgrave, rising, ^^come along; let us go 
to headquarters and get a letter from the captain ; you have 
no time to lose. There’s a steamer leaving Dover this 
evening; you had better leave by it/^ 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 249 

^^Certainly; the sooner the better. And what are 
your plans, Mr. Walgrave?^^ 

^‘1 will stay here ready to follow Jerry and his mother 
should I get a clew. They will try to leave England, you 
may depend upon that; not by way of Dover, perhaps, 
but by some other route; they might go by Southampton 
to Havre.^^ 

^^And what is Jack going to do?^^ 

^^Well, I donT see any work for him at present; he 
can go back to his shoeblacking, and keep his eyes open; 
but I donT see that he can help any more in this case, 
since all parties have or will have left England ; but I T1 
get him on some other case before long, for he ^s clever.^^ 

Jaek^s face brightened at these words, for he had 
feared that he was dismissed on account of his last 
mishap. 

Mathew, after receiving a letter from his captain, 
parted with Walgrave; they wished each other success. 
He soon reached Dover, and, going straight to the British 
Hotel, made inquiries and learned everything about Miss 
Hogg^s telegram, as the reader already knows, and that 
evening left Dover for Calais and there saw the prefect 
of police, gave him the letter, and was assured that every- 
thing in their power should be done to help him. The 
customhouse people were questioned and they remembered 
the lady and her maid; their trunks were addressed to 
Paris. 

^^All right f’ said the prefect ; ^^you wire along the line 
and make sure that they did really reach Paris, and find 
out at what hotel the lady is staying; bring the answer 
to my house.^^ 

The man hurried to obey, while the prefect took 
Mathew to his house to dinner. The prefect spoke a 
little English, so that the dinner passed off very well. 
The Frenchman was jolly, and so was Mathew, so that 
they got on extremely well together, and Mathew relished 
his cafe a Veau de vie and the canard which followed. 

In less than two hours a telegram arrived. The prefect 
opened it and said, "'Ma fo% here ^s good news for you ; the 
American lady and her maid have really gone to Paris, 
are staying at Vhotel de Paris, and have met some of 
their American friends; there is nothing suspicious about 


MISS HOGG 


250 

them ; the mistress is going to the opera this evening with 
her friends ; she seems to be settled, and means to stay at 
the hotel for some time ; that ^s all we know about her ; but 
some of our best men are on the watch, and will not lose 
sight of her till relieved by the English detective/^ 

^^Well, Mr. Mathew, what do you think of that in so 
short a time, eh?’’ asked the prefect with some pride. 

^^It is wonderful,” replied Mathew ; your police system 
is very much superior to ours.” 

no, monsieur, but it is good,” answered the pre- 
fect, politely. am going to give you a letter of intro- 
duction to Mr. Eobert, one of our best men, and if between 
you, you don’t catch this American demoiselle tripping, 
then I wish her success; she will deserve it.” 

Mathew, having received his letter, thanked the pre- 
fect for his kindness and left for Paris, which he reached 
in due time. 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


251 


CHAPTEE XXXVI. 

Mathew was entranced with the beauty of the city; 
never had he seen anything to equal it. London is a 
grand and beautiful city, but there are too many factories 
and too much smoke; it is not clean, like beautiful Paris, 
which is a pleasant city where the sun always shines 
brightly and the skies are blue, not gray, as in London. 
Mathew had never dreamed of such grandeur — the Champs 
Elysees, the Tuileries, the Palais Imperial, the Bourse, 
I'Eglise de Xotre Dame, the Seine, which divides the 
city ; the pleasure boats sailing up and down the Seine, the 
palatial houses of the aristocracy, the theaters, opera 
houses, grand markets, flowers and fruits unequaled; the 
grand shops with their splendid displays of silks, satins, 
mantles, shawls, hats, bonnets, parasols; jewelers’ shops, 
with the richest sets of diamonds, rubies, emeralds, garnets, 
opals, and every other description of precious stones ; 
grand furniture, so handsome, yet so substantial. Mathew 
was dazed — lost in admiration before so much grandeur. 
He saw a great many equipages going towards the 
Barriere, and was told that some were going to the Bois de 
Boulogne and others to Versailles; the beautiful picture 
galleries and splendid gardens attract many people, and it 
is a nice ride. He took a seat in the shadow of the tall 
and beautiful trees, and looked at every carriage that 
passed ; he saw that there were people of all nationalities ; 
the French, with their merry, jovial countenances, the 
Germans, with their stern, fair and fat faces, the English, 
with their plain equipages and air of calm dignity, 
which cannot be surpassed; the Americans, with their 
flashy equipages, showy toilets, loud voices and laughter. 
Mathew saw many carriages, and wondered if he would 
see Miss Hogg in one of them. 

A French gentleman had sat on the same bench as 
Mathew for some time, and he also seemed lost in ad- 
miration; looking at the occupants of the carriages, and 
smiling complacently to himself^ and as if in answer 


252 


MISS HOGG 


to Mathew’s thoughts, he said to him, ^*Ah, monsieur, 
there she is in the green and yellow carriage, and one 
of the footmen behind is Eobert the detective — the fat, 
short one — do you see him, monsieur?” 

Mathew was so surprised that he stared at the gentle- 
man, then at the carriage, and sure enough, there was 
Miss Hogg, very much overdressed, and another lady, older 
than herself, and two gentlemen facing them on the front 
seat; they were laughing loudly. Miss Hogg saw Mathew, 
and she kissed the tips of her fingers to him and laughed 
heartily; then the carriage was gone. Mathew felt that 
he had been very imprudent to show himself in such a pub- 
lic place. He turned to the gentleman at his side and in- 
quired how he came to know him and his object in coming 
to Paris. ^'Mon clier monsieur, I saw you leave the train 
station and I have been near you ever since. I saw Miss 
Hogg at the hotel and I got the situation of footman for 
Eofcrt. Of course she does not know that I am a 
detective; she only knows that I am going away and no 
longer require a footman; and as Eobert speaks English 
almost as well as French, she was delighted to have him. 
He will come to see you every night, and report whatever 
is suspicious in Miss Hogg’s conduct; and should she 
take it into her head to make a trip somewhere he will 
manage to go with her as interpreter, and, if possible, 
in such an event he will send you word.” 

Mathew thanked him, and was lost in admiration of 
the cleverness of the French detectives, and he felt ashamed 
of his own inferiority. The gentleman laughed heartily, 
shook hands with Mathew, and left him to recover his 
equilibrium. Mathew had been considerably upset by 
the superior knowledge of the French detective, who seemed 
to know all about him. He must also know his present 
address, for he had not asked him for it. 

All this was very good and clever; still, Mathew did 
not relish being watched, however much he might like to 
watch others. He returned to his hotel and promised 
himself to assume a disguise which would throw the 
French police off his track. He should have done so before 
Miss Hogg had recognized him and laughed in his face. 
This was a bad beginning; she would be on her guard; he 
had not intended that she should know that he was still 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


253 


after her. What business had he to go to such a public 
place ? The fact was that Mathew was so lost in admira- 
tion of the beauty of Paris that for the time being he had 
entirely forgotten Miss Hogg and his mission in Paris; 
but what was done could not be undone. Miss Hogg and 
her maid would be sure to be on the lookout for him; 
happily she had fallen into the French detective’s trap 
by taking his supposed footman, who would not leave 
her for a minute and would report to him, and between 
them they surely would locate her if she tried to visit 
Lady Florence, as she would be sure to do sooner or later ; 
it would be only a matter of time; still, he felt annoyed 
that she had recognized him. And to kiss her fingers to 
him ! What a mockery ! As if to say, ^^Do your worst ; I 
defy you!” 

Mathew having returned to his hotel, which was in a 
side street, at some distance from the Hotel de Paris, 
waited for M. Eobert, wondering if he would come ; he did 
come, but in the evening, and no longer dressed as a 
lackey, but as a gentleman; and, though short and rather 
stout, he was good looking, his pointed mustaches reach- 
ing nearly to his eyes when he smiled ; his dark blue eyes 
were full of fire; he looked like a man of the world who 
knew how to enjoy himself; no one would have suspected 
him of being a detective. 

The French and the English detective looked hard at 
one another as if to read each other’s thoughts, and to 
measure each other’s strength and ability as detectives, 
and each thought himself a match for the other, and 
they felt so equal that they both determined to bring all 
their ability into play and to win this hard case. 


254 


HISS HOGG 


CHAPTEK XXXVII. 

Monsieur Egbert had remained near the door, looking 
at the handsome English detective, who had risen from 
his chair to receive his visitor, but had determined not 
to speak first for fear of betraying himself should this 
gentleman not prove to be a detective, but he had not 
long to wait, for the Frenchman came forward with his 
hand extended and a smile on his face, saying, ^^Ah, 
Monsieur Mathew is a wise man, and knows that silence 
is golden. I am your very humble servant, Frangois 
Eobert.^^ 

^^Happy to see you. Monsieur Eobert,^^ said Mathew. 
^^I thought it was you, still, I thought it better to make 
sure. I see that I have no need to introduce myself, for 
you seem to know me better than I do myself.^^ 

^^Ah, ha, ha,^^ laughed M. Eobert; ^^you are prudent; 
that^s good; we shall soon understand one another. 

^^Thanks to you. Monsieur Eobert,^^ replied Mathew, 
^^for I don’t speak one word of French, I am sorry to say.” 

^*^0, monsieur will soon learn; he is clever.” 

^^Yes,” thought Mathew; ^^he is going to try to bam- 
boozle me with all his flattery.” Then he asked: ^^Any- 
thing about Miss Flogg that will lead us a step nearer 
to solving this great mystery?” 

^^Xo, monsieur, not yet; I am one of her footmen, and 
wherever she goes I go to interpret for her, unless she has 
some lady friend who speaks French.” 

^^Where is she to-night?” 

^^At a ball given by the American consul, and she’ 
will not be home before three o’clock in the morning.” 

^^And the maid, where is she, for she is almost as 
dangerous as her mistress.” 

^^Ah, ha, ha,” laughed M. Eobert; ^^she is a little 
coquette; we are getting on nicely together. I have cut 
the other footman out because he can’t talk English; still, 
she makes eyes at him and has learned to say ^mon cher 
ami' in no time. I shall trj to pump her about her mis- 


THE AMERICA^- HEIRESS 


255 


tress when we know-eaeh other better, even if I have to 
propose to her in order to do it. Everything is fair in a 
case like this;^^ and he laughed heartily. 

Mathew smiled at the idea of this gentlemanly man 
making love to ^liss Hogg’s maid ; surely she would 
be hard to please if she refused him. Time will show 
if Katy was caught by the French detective. Very little 
more was said between Mathew and the detective that 
night ; the time had been too short to have discovered much 
about Miss Hogg’s movements; so they parted with the 
understanding that Eobert would call every night, and 
if something of importance occurred in the daytime he 
would let him know. 

^‘^Look here,” said Mathew, ^^you must have a key to 
this room, and come in whenever you wish, and if I 
should be out write what you have to say, for I can’t be 
here all the time. So take this key and I will get another 
from the hotel keeper ; I ’ll tell him that I ’ve lost mine. 
Wait, I ’ll go out with you.” He locked the door and 
gave the key to Eobert, saying, ^^When I come back they 
will have to give me a key or I can’t get in ; they will think 
I have lost mine.” 

^Wery good, very good. Monsieur Mathew,” said 
Eobert. 

They left the hotel together, but soon separated, not 
wishing to be seen together. 

Some days passed. M. Eobert came every night, but 
had nothing to report ; there really was nothing suspicious 
in Miss Hogg’s conduct nor in that of her maid; they 
seldom went out together except to shop; the mistress 
went her own way with her friends, and Katy did the 
same, and had actually gone out walking with M. Eobert, 
but so far he had gained nothing by it. 

One evening about a week after Miss Hogg’s arrival 
he came to Mathew and said, have something to tell you 
this time; it may not be of any importance and yet it 
may; it is this: while out walking with Catherine, or 
Katy, as her mistress calls her, she asked -me to take her 
to the general post office to see if there was a letter for 
her; I pretended to be jealous, but she very soon made 
me understand that I had not gained a very great power 
over her heart, for she exclaimed, ^0, my heart, if you are 


256 


Migs mm 


going to bother me with your jealoiTsy I ^11 send yon to 
the right about in a jiffy; you^re not the only pebble on 
the beach and she pulled her hand away from my arm. 
I had to play the humble to be allowed to accompany 
her.^^ 

^^Did she get a letter?’^ asked Mathew, impatiently. 

^^Yes, and addressed to herself; she showed it to me 
triumphantly, and kissing it she put it into her pocket. 
I tried to coax her to open it, but it was no go, and we 
nearly quarreled over it; pushing me away, she walked 
ahead of me, expecting me to walk behind her, but I 
did n^t do it, as I wanted to go back to the post office to 
ascertain where the letter had come from, and I had 
provoked the quarrel for that purpose. She looked back 
before turning the corner, but I pretended to be looking 
into a shop, and she tossed up her head defiantly and dis- 
appeared. I waited to make sure that she did not intend 
to come back; then I walked briskly back to the post 
office and asked the postmaster to inquire, and knowing me, 
he did so. The letter was posted in Paris ; in fact, at that 
very same post office where Katy had got it, which seemed 
suspicious to me, and as if the party who wrote it did n’t 
wish any one in Paris to know in what part he lived ; and 
why not have sent it to the hotel unless he or she, as the 
ease may be, did not know where Katy was staying ; I leave 
it for you to judge.” 

^Tt seems suspicious, and must have come from Jerry 
or his mother,” replied Mathew. knew that they would 
follow her. Kow you watch if Katy goes out to post a 
letter to-morrow, and try to get hold of it in some way, or 
see the contents, and then let it go to whomsoever it may 
be addressed; and, knowing their plans, we shall allow 
them to meet and will net them all. What do you say 
to that. Monsieur Kobert?” 

say oui, oui; very good ; that ’s just my opinion. 
I must make up my quarrel with Catherine, so good 
night ;” and he left Mathew, to return to the hotel. 

The next morning he was about the hall, looking at 
every letter that was brought down by the servant to 
be posted. He managed to ascertain from the maids, by 
joking with them, for he was a favorite with them, if 
any one had come from Katy’s mistress. Ko, there was 


5DHij AM13PJCAK HEIRESS 257 

no letter sent down by Miss Hogg or her maid; he still 
watched and was rewarded by seeing Katy coming out of 
the hotel, and looking about as if expecting to see some 
of her friends to escort her; but there was no one but M. 
Eobert to advance towards her; he came with a long face, 
looking heart-broken; but she tossed her head defiantly, 
and walked on, Eobert following. After a great deal of 
trouble and many promises, he made his peace with her, 
and she told him that she was going to post a letter. 

^^But why not put it in the post-bag at the hotel he 
asked. 

^‘^Because my mistress wants to make sure that it is 
posted, for it is important.^^ 

^^Aha,^^ thought M. Eobert, ^Ve are coming to it; but 
I must see the address before she drops it in the post;^^ 
and he began to pretend to be jealous again, saying, 
don’t believe your mistress wrote that letter ; it is . you 
writing to some fellow; now Catherine, ma cherie, that’s 
not right, when I have told you how much I love you and 
want to marry you if you would let me.” 

Katy gave him a sly look, and said, ^^You are really 
insupportable with your jealousy, and I am wrong to 
encourage your curiosity. Here, look at the address of 
this letter.” 

M. Eobert’s heart leaped with joy at the prospect of 
seeing the address, for he felt sure that it was an answer 
to the one she had received the day previous. After 
teasing him a little while longer Katy allowed him to see 
her letter, and he read ^^Mrs. Hogg, Ko. — Clinton Avenue, 
Brooklyn, K. Y., U. S. A.” His disappointment was so 
great that he could not hide it. 

^‘^Well, I declare!” said Katy; ^fif you don’t look dis- 
appointed because it is not addressed to a man;” and she 
laughed merrily. 

^^Ko, no;” said Eobert; ^fit is the joy, the surprise, the 
happiness to see that you are true to me, ma cherie/' 

^^Strange way you Frenchmen have of showing your 
joy; and as for being true to you, I never promised any 
such thing. I don’t know my mind yet ; there ’s a nice 
young fellow at the post office who seemed quite taken 
with me yesterday, and as I have n’t made up my mind 
Avhether I ’ll have you or not you must stay here outside 


258 


MISS MOOG 


while I go in and buy a stamp and she left him at the 
door while she went in, and no sooner was she in than 
she tore and put in her pocket the envelope from her 
letter, and disclosed a second envelope addressed ^^Mr. 
Smith, 25 Eue Montmartre, Paris/^ There was a stamp on 
it, she dropped it in the post, and, returning to M. Kobert, 
she walked back to the hotel. 

^^This is very slow work,^^ thought M. Eobert. After 
all, perhaps the English detective was mistaken, and Miss 
Hogg had nothing to do with Lady Florence’s disappear- 
ance.” He had seen nothing so far, and he was getting 
tired of making love to Katy. 

Two days passed away without an 3 rthing worth re- 
cording. The third day a tall and fine looking footman 
was seen among the other servants with the exception of 
Katy, who had told Eobert that she was afraid of him. 
He had tried a few jokes on her, but she had indignantly 
repulsed him. M. Eobert thought he was a fine fellow, 
and made friends with him at once, though Katy told him 
not to do so and pouted over it. M. Eobert and this 
new footman were often seen walking together. Katy was 
a great flirt and a great favorite among the servant men; 
she managed them so well that after a few days not one* 
of them would go out walking with Thomas, as the new 
footman was called, though they talked to him in the 
house when Katy was not around. Only M. Eobert defied 
Katy and continued going out with Thomas. The new 
footman seemed to like Eobert; still, he had told him 
he would be sorry to be the cause of any misunderstanding 
between him and his sweetheart. 

^^0, that ’s nothing,” he replied ; ^^she ’ll come around in 
time; she has no cause to dislike you, so why should 
she ?” 

don’t know,” said Thomas; H must try to make 
friends with her;” and he certainly did his best, but 
Katy would have none of him. 

The reader will have guessed that this new footman 
was Jerry, and Katy’s pretended dislike for him was to 
throw M. Eobert off his guard and at the same time to 
set a spy on him, giving her more liberty. But how had 
she discovered that Eobert was a detective? It remains 
for us to explain. 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


259 


CHAPTER XXXVIII. 

Jerry was left alone in London to work his way to 
France the best way he could. He knew that every port 
would be watched as soon as the boy Jack was free and 
had related what had happened to him, and that he would 
recognize him should they meet. He had no fear of 
Walgrave nor Mathew, who had never seen him since he 
had shaved off his long beard; he knew that Miss Hogg 
would go openly, and that a detective would be sent after 
her who would have no trouble in finding her; he also 
knew that not finding Lady Florence with her they would 
guess that they had gone another way with her, and 
consequently would make it very difficult for him to leave 
England ; so he set his wits to work and bought newspapers 
to see the departures of steamers that would take him to 
France by a roundabout way, and he concluded to go by 
train to Little Hampton, which is a very small town in 
England, and from there take passage to the Island of 
Jersey, and from there, in the steamer Venus, to Granville, 
France, and to go leisurely in order not to expose himself 
to suspicion. He knew that his mother and Lady Florence 
had left England before J ack had been discovered, and that 
so far, they were safe. He arrived safely in Jersey, and 
from there, in Granville, and after remaining a day in 
each of these towns, he had gone to Paris and had seen no 
suspicious person following him. He had taken a room 
at 25 Rue Montmartre, and had gone to post his letter at 
the general post office so as to leave no clew as to where 
or whom it came from. He apprised Miss Hogg of his 
whereabouts and awaited her orders, and the orders had 
come in the letter posted by Katy. 

He was to come to the Hotel de Paris as the footman of 
an English gentleman who was to meet him there on his 
return from a visit that he was paying to one of his friends 
in the country, and to try to make friends with a certain 
footman who was supposed to be Katy's sweetheart, and 
who spoke English. Katy would pretend to dislike him 


260 


MISS HOGG 


very much, however agreeable he might make himself to 
her. He was to watch this French footman without 
appearing to do so, and not to force his company on him, 
but to make himself so pleasant to all the men servants that 
he would attract the notice of the footman, and he would 
naturally make friends with him, as he was fond of a 
joke, and Jerry could be very funny when he chose, and 
Katy would drop the detective — for she had no doubt this 
man was a detective — and work so on the other men serv- 
ants that they would turn the cold shoulder on Jerry, and 
so leave him more time to watch this man. He must 
make it his business to find out where he goes; if he 
meets Mathew; where Mathew is staying. When he had 
news worth communicating he could pass a note to Katy 
in one of his endeavors to make friends with her, for 
he must feel sorry that she disliked him; must declare 
himself quite fascinated by her good looks, and never lose 
a chance of making friends with her; but he must be 
careful and keep his wits about him, for they had to do 
with clever men — how many were after them she did n’t 
know ; but he was to trust no one but Katy, and, of course, 
pretend not to know Miss Hogg. This was, as near as 
possible, the substance of the letter posted by Katy. 

But how had Miss Hogg discovered that Eobert was 
a detective ? When she had accepted him for her footman 
from his former master she had thought it strange that 
the master should have chosen her among so many other 
American ladies to offer her his footman. She had not 
thought much about it at the time, but it had come upon 
her when discussing the matter with her maid, in her 
own room. She v/as pleased to have a servant who could 
act as interpreter, but how came the gentleman to know 
that she did not speak French ? Fie may have guessed it ; 
still, she must keep her eyes open; the desire to outwit 
the French detectives as she had done the English ones 
came upon her, and she laughed merrily and made plans 
with Katy, who was getting quite used to the business and 
rather liked it; so she made up her mind to flirt with the 
French footman and find him out. 

When Miss Hogg had seen Mathew sitting on a bench 
in the Champs Ffiysees and not far from him the gentleman 
who had recommended the footman who spoke English 


THE AMEEICAN HEIRESS 


261 


— though he might have been there by mere chance — 
still, it flashed upon her, ^‘^He is a detective, and so is my 
footman. Bravo ! my fine fellows, I have found you out 
and will lead you a fine dance and in her triumph, 
she had kissed the tips of her fingers to Mathew, as 
though to say, ^^There you are again; I know you;^^ but 
she took no notice of the gentleman, who imagined he had 
not been recognized by Miss Hogg, he having turned his 
head away as she passed, after telling Mathew that she 
was coming; but Miss Hogg had eyes like a hawk, and 
could see with half an eye, as the saying is. 

She was exceedingly pleased when Katy brought her a 
letter from Jerry, for she needed him to watch her foot- 
man ; Katy was getting tired of him. She had often gone 
out with him, but had seen nothing suspicious about him 
except that he liked to question her about her mistress, 
and had clearly shown his disappointment on seeing the 
letter addressed to Miss Hogg^s mother. She knew that 
he went out every evening, but she had not dared to 
follow him, for if he found her out it would put him on 
his guard, and as Jerry was expected at any moment it 
was best to wait, for a man could follow where a woman 
could not, without being noticed. Miss Hogg impressed 
upon her very strongly not to be too friendly with Jerry 
— he must seem a stranger to her. She could pretend to 
dislike him, still, not too strongly, for that would make 
Eobert suspicious, and that would end the fun. 

Katy had played her part very cleverly by showing 
her displeasure at seeing Eobert so taken up with the 
English footman, who, his master not being there, had all 
his time to himself, and was always ready to go out with 
whoever invited him till Katy had turned the other 
servants against him so that he seldom went out with 
anyone except Eobert, though he had never forced his 
company on him; so he had no reason to suspect him of 
being in league with Miss Hogg, who never gave him a 
look, and Katy actually hated him, for, as she told Eobert, 
^^He takes all your time now; we can never go out for a 
walk since that big, ugly fellow came.^^ 

And Detective Eobert, like all men, was a little vain, 
and believed Katy to be jealous, and he had answered her, 
^^Well, ma cherie, you may come with us* why do yoii 


262 


MISS HOGG 


hate the poor fellow? He is fine-looking; but perhaps 
you don^t like tall men. I feel flattered, mon ange, and 
for the first time I rejoice at my short stature, since it 
has found favor in your eyes, ma belle/' 

And Katy had turned away angrily and had gone 
upstairs to her mistress’s room and had had a good laugh 
with her at his expense. 

^^Talk about women being vain, Mamie; why, men 
beat us all hollow.” 

^^Well, never mind their vanity, Katy; now that we 
have Jerry to watch that jackanapes of a Frenchman we 
shall have more liberty to go about. I should like to see 
Mrs. Jerry — Martin, I mean. When the coast is clear 
you and I must go to see her. I dare not write, and it 
is much easier to talk than to write, and we can understand 
one another better. Everything must have gone right at 
Antwerp, for she arrived in Paris yesterday, her last note 
said, and is staying at her son’s room, 25 Kue Montmartre. 
When Jerry goes out of an evening with Kobert, and has 
found out where Mathew lives we must go. I must know 
first all about Mathew. Do you sometimes see him 
about the hotel — I mean disguised, of course.” 

^^Kot that I know of, Mamie; but you may depend 
upon it that he will turn up when we least expect him and 
spoil all.” 

often think so myself, for he is no fool.” 

^^Kor is Eobert,” said Katy; ^^he can play the lover fine, 
the deceitful wretch; it is well that my heart is elastic or 
he would soon have it broken, were I to believe all his bal- 
derdash and his soft French words, which really sound very 
sweet, and his sweet smiles. I feel like boxing his ears, 
knowing that it is all sham. He has a fine mustache, 
well curled and of such a nice brown; and such splendid 
blue eyes. If he were making love to me for good I would 
feel very differently towards him.” 

^ J should think so, Katy ; he ’s a real gentleman ; he 
can’t hide that.” 

Some days later Jerry managed to pass a note to Katy, 
in which was Mathew’s address, and the information that 
he often went out disguised as an old man, and went so far 
as to dine at the Paris Hotel at thfe fable d'hote. He had 


263 


ITHE American- heiress 
A 

told Eobert/who went to report to him every night, and 
also that Miss Hogg had not recognized him; that he had 
played the gallant to her, passing her the dessert, and even 
helping her, and she had shown no sign of recognition. 

When Miss Hogg read this she was furious, and she 
exclaimed, angrily, ‘‘The old porpoise ! and I who believed 
him to be an old English lord, and actually pressed his 
hand as he passed me a plate of strawberries that he had 
prepared with port wine and sugar, he said, purposely for 
me. 0, what a fool I am, to be sure ! How he must laugh 
with that other, devil of a Eobert ! But wait, I ^11 be on 
the lookout for the old crank and I T1 pay him off.^^ 

“0, but that^s too good for anything,^^ said Katy, 
laughing; ^^you, Mamie, making up to Mathew, and not 
knowing him ! That beats all ! Why, if you clonT look 
out you ^11 find yourself married to him before you know 
it.^^ 

“But read on, and see how Jerry learned all this; 
ho^s a sharp fellow, that Jerry; I donT know what we 
would do without him.^^ 

“You Ye right.^^ And she read on : “When Eobert 
visits Mathew he always takes me with him, that is, to 
the hotel, not to his room. He orders coffee; then, after 
drinking his cup, says, ‘You amuse yourself here for half 
an hour; I have a rendez-vous upstairs. I would not tell 
you if you were friendly with Katy, but as you are not 
I can trust you not to tell her;^ and oft he goes, and I 
slip after him and listen at Mathew’s door. The room is 
at the end of the hall on the fifth floor and no other 
rooms near it, so that no one has to pass the door, and 
not suspecting that anyone is listening at the door they 
talk at their ease and loud enough for me to hear. All 
I have to fear is should they come out unexpectedly 
I would have no time . to retreat, for the hall is long. 
So far everything has gone right, and Eobert does not 
suspect me in the least. When he comes down I am 
sometimes asleep in my chair or walking in front of 
the hotel. He begins to trust me, and has told me to have 
an eye on Katy and tell him where she goes. I laughed 
and said, ‘Jealous, eh? Then I’ll have to be careful or 
you ’ll be pitching into me some of these days if I pay her 


264 


MISS HOGG 


a paltry compliment, and I really like Katy/ ^0, no, I 
wont be jealous of you; she dont care about tail men;' 
and he laughed and so did I, for I was taking him in, and 
not he me. We are going to Mathew at ten o'clock to-night ; 
if you wish to go to my mother’s I 'll keep an eye on 
both Eobert and Mathew, so that you will not be interfered 
with, and will be warned if any danger is near." 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


265 


CHAPTEE XXXIX. 

So things went on for a while. Miss Hogg often 
visited Mrs. Jerry and had her disguised at her house. 
Katy sometimes accompanied her mistress. Eobert went 
as usual to Mathew every night, but he had nothing to 
report, and Mathew himself had not advanced a step 
in his case. All this was not very encouraging. Neither 
Jerry nor his mother had made their appearance in 
Paris. They could find no clew to Lady Florence. Eobert 
sometimes set Thomas to watch Miss Hogg and her 
servant while he made his visits to Mathew, for he had 
heard that they went out together sometimes in his absence, 
and Jerry, or Thomas, as we may call him, would slip 
after Miss Hogg and Katy, and pretend to follow them for 
a few blocks; then, slipping a note in Miss Hogg^s hand, 
would follow Eobert and listen at Mathew’s door. This 
was a dangerous business, for if he were caught, or even 
seen, in the hotel it would go hard with him and he would 
no longer be able to listen to all their conversation, not 
hearing the beginning. 

Things were sure to turn out badly, and Miss Hogg, 
Jerry, and his mother were beginning to live in a fever of 
fear. 

One evening Eobert said, ^^Here, Thomas, is a note; 
take it up to the hotel, you know, go right up to the 
fifth story and at the end of the corridor you will see 
a door; knock twice, then open the door; if there is no 
one in, put the note under the door and come back here; 
but very likely you will find a gentleman there.” 

^^Ah,” said Thomas, thought it was a lady you went 
to see, and now you tell me it ’s a gentleman ; what am 
I to think of it?” 

Eobert laughed, though he felt very uneasy, for he was 
too wise to let Thomas know that, so he said, Mon cher ami, 
do me a favor and carry this note for me ; then come back 
here and watch where Katy goes. I want to go to a little 
party; that is the reason that I write to my 'bim-aimee^ 


266 


MISS HOGG 


telling her that I can^t come. The gentleman that yon 
will see is her father. ISTow are yon satisfied?'^ 

, ^^Bnt why shonld I watch Katy since yon love another 

^^Well, my sharp friend, I have not yet made np my 
mind; and then Katy treats me so badly that I donbt if 
she cares for me, and it is always well to have two strings 
to yonr bow. Ah, ha, mon ami, yon may find it so one 
of these days.^’ 

Jerry had tried hard to warn Miss Hogg or Katy that 
afternoon, but Eobert had stayed by him, never allowing 
him to leave his side for a moment ; and, as ill kick wonld 
have it. Miss Hogg and Katy had gone ont a few minntes 
before Eobert had spoken aliont the note, and Jerry had 
noticed a middle-aged gentleman with a broad-brimmed 
hat, and looking quite the Frenchman, following them ; yet 
to J erry he was Mathew, but as Miss Hogg was only going 
shopping he had not troubled about him. Eobert must 
have known him and he had made up his mind to do with- 
out Jerry that night. 

Jerry was as clever as Eobert, still he felt jammed 
in, but thought it best not to appear uneasy, nor did he 
try more than once to leave him ; if Katy came back before 
he left he would manage to throw fear in his eyes as she 
passed him; she v/as cute, would scent danger and warn 
her mistress, and should she not return in time he must 
trust to her cleverness and that of her mistress; he could 
do nothing else; still, he was very anxious, for if Miss 
Hogg should be caught they would all be, for they were 
all in the same boat; yet he joked and laughed with Eobert 
as though greatly enjo3dng his company. 

Evening came and Jerry had to go with the note. Miss 
Hogg and her maid had not returned. Jerry dared not 
omit to carry the note, and he was also curious to see 
Mathew; but he promised himself that as soon as he had 
delivered the note he would hurry to the Eue Montmartre, 
watch for Miss Hogg’s coming, and warn her at any 
risk to himself; if Eobert should see him he could tell 
him that on his return from his errand he had seen Miss 
Hogg leave the hotel, and as he knew him, Eobert, to be 
at a party, he had followed Miss Hogg and Katy, as he, 
Eobert, had so often asked him to do. What could he say 
in reply to that? Nothing. So Jerry made his plans 


(THE americaj^'heires? ^6'}' 

going along to Mathew’s hotel. Poor Jerry! He little 
knew that he was walking into a trap. 

He arrived at the hotels going upstairs as lightly 
as possible for he wanted to have a look at Mathew before 
he knocked; as he approached the door he could see a 
light under it, and he bent down to look through the key- 
hole, and nearly put his eye out with the key that had been 
left on the outside of the door. With great fortitude he 
suppressed a cry of pain, and withdrawing the key from 
the lock, he slipped it into his pocket, thinking it might 
be useful in the future, and he would give it to Miss 
Hogg. 

He looked through the keyhole and saw Mathew 
sitting quietly in an armchair, smiling to himself, as if 
waiting for some one. ^^ 0 /’ thought Jerry, ^m ex- 
pected; it^s a plan between the two; I must be on my 
guard,^^ and retreating to the end of the passage, he came 
back with a heavy step so as to be heard by Mathew; 
and giving two raps, he opened the door, and found 
Mathew just putting on his hat as if he were going out; 
he was disguised as an old gentleman; probably the same 
who had been so attentive to Miss Hogg at the dinner table 
in the Hotel de Paris. 

^^ 0 /’ he said, turning round and facing Jerry, ^ht^s 
you, Thomas; I thought it was Eobert.^^ 

^‘^0, no, sir; Eobert canT come, and I bring a note 
explaining why.^^ 

Mathew opened the note, saying, ^W^ait, my friend, I 
may want to send an answer; sit down;^^ and Jerry sat 
down very near the door, feeling very anxious about what 
was in the note, as he saw Mathew smile to himself as if 
well pleased; and having read the note, he put it in his 
pocket, saying, ^^So our friend has gone to a party, but 
he will be here by eleven o’clock, and he -proposes that 
we have supper together, so that you are to stay here 
and wait for him. I will do all I can to entertain you 
in the meantime. I ’m sorry to say that my daughter is 
out or she would be able to amuse you better than I, for 
she plays the piano and sings well.” 

^^0, don’t trouble at all about me,” said J erry, ’ll 

go for a walk and come back at eleven o’clock; you were 


m 


MISS HOGa 


going out, I believe^ so don^t let me stand in your way, 
Mr. Johnson.^^ That had been the name on the note. 

^^Well, you h'e right, Thomas, I was going out when 
3^ou came in, but since you donT mind I dl go now and 
Jerry rejoiced that he had succeeded so well in throwing 
Mathew off his guard, and certainly did not intend to 
return at eleven o^clock; he only hoped that he would 
be in time to warn Miss Hogg of what was going on. 

^^Well, good evening, Mr. Johnson, I 'll be back soon.^^ 

^^Wait a moment,^^ said Mathew, T1 go a little ways 
with you and, closing the door, he felt for the key to lock 
it, but not finding it, he went in again and got a light 
to look for it, feeling sure that it had fallen on the 
fioor. 

Jerry took good care not to offer his services in the 
* search for the key, so that he could not be accused of 
having taken it ; but the search proved vain. 

^^Well, never mind,^^ said Mathew, have nothing 
worth stealing, so let ^s go and they went out together. 

Mathew had really no business to attend to; he only 
went out for a walk, as he said it gave him an appetite; 
after walking about the boulevard and smoking their cigars, 
they returned to the hotel, where Eobert had not yet 
arrived ; so Mathew ordered supper, and as at eleven o’clock 
Eobert had not shown up, Mathew said, ^Tndeed, we are 
not going to have a good supper spoiled by waiting for 
Eobert, so let us fall to, my friend.” Jerry was compelled 
to be pleased at the attention shown him hy Mr. Johnson, 
and he forced himself to eat, wondering when Johnson 
would let him go. He felt sure that something dreadful 
was taking place; and when, at half past twelve, Mr. 
Jolinson, having given up all hopes of Eobert, wished 
him good night and allowed him to depart, he did not 
know whether he ought to go straight to the hotel or 
to his mother; if they had been found out it would be 
equally dangerous at either place. His thoughts were 
running sixty miles a minute, and he had the fever of 
fear ; he was not a coward, but he hated to be working in 
the dark. 

0, if he only knew what Eobert had been doing during 
his absence he could shape his course accordingly! He 
was not returning to the hotel the usual way, but by a 


TH^ American heiress 269 

l*oiindabout way, deliberating with himself as to what 
had better be done, when he saw a man approaching at a 
brisk pace, stop still a moment, then hurriedly retrace his 
steps. ^^Why,^^ thought Jerry, ^Hhat^s Eobert, but I hope 
to throw him off his guard first f and he walked on toward 
the hotel, smiling to himself as if he had had a drink 
too many, and pretending not to see Eobert hiding in a 
doorway, who, as soon as Jerry had turned the corner, 
took to his heels and ran till he had turned the other 
corner. 

Jerry having seen this pantomime, went towards 
Mathew’s hotel by another route, and got there just in time 
to see him meet Eobert at the door and go into the hotel 
with him. The hotel was still open, though it must have 
been one o^clock in the morning. Jerry slipped in by 
the side door and crept upstairs in the dark, for all the 
lights had been extinguished except in the barroom. He 
listened as he went up, for fear of overtaking them on the 
hall stairs, but there was no danger of that for Eobert was 
in a hurry to unburden himself of the great discovery he 
had made that evening; and when Jerry reached the door 
he was saying, ^^Yes, my friend, I have discovered where 
Lady Florence is hidden by Miss Hogg ; what do you think 
of that, mon ami?'" 

^^Good, very good, eh?^^ 

It made Jerry’s hair stand on end ; they were discovered, 
and probably Miss Hogg, Katy, and his mother were 
taken prisoners; the perspiration ran down his face; his 
turn would come next. But Mathew was speaking: 

^^Do sit down, Monsieur Eobert, and tell me, did you 
arrest anyone?” 

^^Ho, no. Monsieur Mathew; there ’s no hurry.” 

These words relieved poor Jerry of a great weight; all 
was not lost, and they might yet turn the tables on the 
detectives. He must hear what Eobert has to say, and 
what their plans are; he will have to see Miss Hogg that 
very night; she must be told. Eobert is talking: 

^^Well, you see. Monsieur Mathew, I sent Thomas to 
you because I wanted him out of the way so that I might 
be free to follow Miss Hogg should she go out. I pretended 
to be going to a party, but in reality I hid in a large 
press in Miss Hogg’s room.” 


270 


MISS HOOO 


^^Bnt if she had discovered you, what then?^^ 

^^0, I had to chance that ; I would have said that Katy 
put me there and he laughed. 

^^Well, that would be too bad/^ replied Mathew. 

^^Well, I was not discovered, so that^s all right. Miss 
Hogg came in first and Katy followed in about five 
minutes. She said, ‘Eobert has gone to a party, and I 
can't find Thomas.' " 

Poor Jerry, who was listening, felt his hair stand up 
on his head and his face turn white, for he had expected 
Katy to say Jerry, but thank heaven, she had said Thomas; 
he was not found out yet. 

^^Miss Hogg answered, don't trouble about him; he 
can't be far from Eobert; if there was danger he would 
manage to let us know; never fear; he is a match for 
that plausible Eobert; but we had better go; give me my 
heavy coat for it will be cold coming back.' I feared that 
she was coming to the press for it ; if she did' it would be 
all up with me; but no, it was hanging behind the door. 
After muffling themselves up they left the room, and 
so did I. I had disguised myself so as to be able to 
follow near enough not to lose sight of them in the dark. 
It was a good, long walk, wherever they were going. At 
last they went in at Ko. 25 Eue Montmartre." 

^^0," thought J erry, ^They have us this time ! I wonder 
that Miss Hogg and Katy were so careless before entering 
the house, but, of course, they depended upon me to see 
that the coast was clear, and I had told them that it was." 

^A¥ell, Monsieur Eobert, what did you find out?" 
asked Mathew, impatiently. 

^^Wait, wait, Mr. Mathew; it 's too good to be swallowed 
at one gulp; you shall have it all, bit by bit, and enjoy 
it the better for it, too. Just as you sip a good glass of 
wine. Well, mon ami, I got into the house almost as soon 
as they did, for I didn't know to what floor they were 
going, and when once in the room, how could I tell, so 
that I must not lose sight of them, and of course I re- 
mained one flight behind. When I had arrived at the 
third floor a door opened at the fourth floor, and an old 
woman, decidedly English, looked over the balustrade 
with a lighted candle as if she was expecting them. When 
they came up to her she said, ^Who have you with you — 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


271 


wilt) is that coming up after you?’ -^ISTo one/ answered 
Katy. ^0, yes/ said the old woman, but I didn’t give 
her time to come down and see. I opened a door near 
where I had been standing, and walked in, to the amaze- 
ment of the occupants of the room; and acting as though 
I thought I had made a mistake, I retreated, saying, ^Mille 
'pardons, je me trompe/ and I ran downstairs whistling 
an opera tune, waited some time in the hall and then 
went up again. The old woman was no longer there; 
it was dark ; she must have taken me for one of the tenants, 
as I wished her to do. As there was no one on the watch, 
I crept upstairs with only one mishap — I thought I 
had reached the top, and as I had not done so, my foot 
came down with a thump that shook me all over.” ♦ 

^^0, do come to the point,” said Mathew; don’t 
want to know how you got in, but what you heard ; we are 
losing time, and they will get away from us again.” 

‘^^ISTo, no, Mr. Mathew, I promise you on my honor they 
won’t escape, and if they do, I know where Lady Florence 
is, and that is the most important thing, is it not ?” 

^^Yes, yes ; well go on ; I am in a fever of expectation.” 

^AYell, mon ami, after that mishap I waited for some 
time for a door to open ; but no ; either they had not heard 
or they did n’t care who might be breaking his neck on 
the dark stairs, so I stole softly up to the door, and 
looking through the keyhole, I saw Miss Hogg seated com- 
fortably by the fire, without her cloak, and an old woman 
giving her a cup of either tea or coffee. Katy was placing 
the cloak on the bed, for it was a bedroom and living-room 
combined. Miss Hogg, after drinking the contents of the 
cup, said, ^Well, nurse, we shall have to move on soon; 
we are being watched too closely for comfort, and after 
having gone so far successfully it would be too bad to 
be overtaken by those detectives. I think we have had 
fun enough at their expense, and that it would be tempting 
Providence to continue longer. Eobert and Mathew will 
eventually prove too much for us.’ 

^^So you see, Mr. Mathew, she knew that I was a 
detective; and you may depend upon it that that long- 
legged fellow, Thomas, has been sent by her to watch 
me; and I who trusted him and set him to watch Katy. 
How they must have laughed at me !” 


272 


MISS HOGa 


^^Hold on/^ said Mathew, placing his hand on his 
forehead, have it. This fellow Thomas is Jerry the 
poacher, and the old woman at 25 Eue Montmartre is his 
mother, as sure as I live. I never saw the fellow while 
in England, so of course I would nT know him ; and as 
he was not in Miss Hogg^s service I never thought of his 
being Jerry. 

''Oui, oui. Monsieur Mathew, that ^s it ; now we are 
getting things straight at last. That Miss Hogg would be 
worth her weight in gold to the detective bureau. How 
clever! And that Catherine is worthy of her, the deceit- 
ful cat ! All my love-making has been lost on her ; she 
has a marble heart, the little coquette 1^^ 

^AVell, about Lady Florence,^^ asked Mathew again; 
^^are you never coming to that?^^ 

mon ami; I am just on the point of letting the 
cat out of the bag, as you English say. ^You Ye right. Miss 
Hogg,^ replied the old woman; H live in fear, and donY 
dare call my soul my own; I do wish I could live in 
peace once more, were I ever so poor ; and I have been very 
sorry that I have had a hand in this affair. Do, miss, 
return the young lady; they will forgive you for the 
pleasure of getting her back again.^ ^Ho, nurse, never; 
they have insulted me beyond pardon, and if I can prevent 
it they shall never see her again.^ ^Then you intend to 
leave her at the Convent des UrsuUnes, where I placed 
her ^Yes, they will never think of looking for her there ; 
as I have never set foot in Antwerp in all my travels 
they canY suspect that she Y there."^ said Katy, ^but 

do you think it prudent to speak of that here? Suppose 
some one heard you; how long would she remain there 
and what would become of us, I should like to know ? Why 
mention names of places,’ continued prudent Katy. ^Katy 
is right;’ said Miss Hogg; Yet us never name the place 
where she is.’ I thought, “^Aha, Miss Hogg, it is rather late 
to shut the stable door after the horse is gone; you will 
find that out to your cost, ma mief ” 

^^You’re right. Monsieur Eobert, but what do you 
propose to do— arrest them all, and go for Lady Flor- 
ence ?” 

^^Ko, no, not that, Mr. Mathew; we have really no proof 
Bgainst these people untU we have secured l^ady Florence; 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


273 


SO that our first move must be to get a letter of intro- 
duction to the captain of police of Antwerp, Belgium. 
We French detectives have no power to act there without 
an order from the captain there. 

will get you the order to-morrow, and you can leave 
Paris to-morrow night ; or do you wish me to go with you ? 
1 really think that it would be better for me to stay here 
and watch.^^ 


274 


MISS HOGG 


CHAPTER XL. 

Jerry had been on the point of giving up his role of 
listener at the door since he had heard that all was dis- 
covered; still, he waited to hear whether Robert intended 
to stay in Paris, and Mathew’s answer would decide that; 
he listened eagerly and full of fear. Mathew thought a 
moment, then said,^T know that it would be wiser to leave 
you here to watch; still, I can’t make up my mind to go 
alone. I don’t speak French^ and will not always be 
able to find an interpreter when I need one; then again, 
I want to go secretly, for we don’t know what accomplice 
they may have on the watch, for Miss Hogg has plenty of 
money, and will not spare it to save herself from scandal. 
So you pretend to-morrow that you are ill ; it will appear 
quite possible after your party of to-night ; then, to-morrow 
night be here at eight o’clock with the captain’s letter; 
or, should you get it sooner, come here. If I should not 
be in, leave it on my table with a note, telling me at what 
time to expect you. And, above all, should you meet 
Jerry, don’t let him see that you suspect him, for I 
want to grab them all when we come back.” 

Jerry, having heard all he wanted to know, thought 
it high time to be gone. Robert would soon leave Mathew, 
and he must not be seen by him, so he left the house and 
hurried to the hotel, entered by the servants’ door, went 
to his room, and wrote the following note : ^^Katy, I must 
see Miss Hogg at once. All is discovered ; be quick. I am 
outside of your door waiting.” Going to Katy’s door, 
he slipped the note under it, and whispered through the 
keyhole, ^^Katy, Katy.” 

Poor Katy woke with a start and began to tremble, 
for she thought that some one was in the room; but hear- 
ing again, ^^Katy, Katy,” she knew that it was at the door, 
and guessed that it was Jerry and that there was great 
danger ahead. She jumped out of bed and whispered, 
^Hs that you, Thomas?” 

^^Yes, 3^es, read the note under the door quick.” 


I'HJ) AM^lRlCA^t litelRESS 

She picked up the note, and running into her mis- 
tresses room, which adjoined hers, and where there was a 
light, she read the note; then, going to Miss Hogg, she 
shook her, saying in a trembling voice, ^^Mamie, we ^re lost ; 
everything is found out; Jerry outside my door and 
wants to speak to you. 0, what are you going to do 
Mamie ?ee 

Miss Hogg jumped up like a flash of lightning and 
exclaimed, ^‘What ! did you say the detectives are at the 
door 

^^Ho, Mamie, it is Jerry who wants to speak to you.^^ 

^^Well, let him into your room; don^t leave him outside; 
he fll be seen.^^ 

^^But Mamie, I ^m not dressed.^^ 

^‘^Well, bring your clothes in here; unlock your door 
and tell him to come in; I fll be with him in a jiffy- 
This is no time to shilly-shally; do as I tell you in the 
twinkling of a bedpost.’^ 

^^But, Mamie, what will he think 

^^Think, indeed ! He is thinking more of getting away 
than of you or your clothes, so do as I tell you.^^ 

Katy, going back to her room, took the clothes in her 
arms, unlocked the door, and rushed into Miss Hogg’s 
room, banging the door after her in a great hurry. 

J erry understood that he was to come in ; so he opened 
the door and entered Katy’s room, locking the door after 
him. The room was dark except for the streak of light 
that could be seen under Miss Hogg’s door. Jerry had not 
long to wait, however, for Miss Hogg soon appeared in 
a flannel dressing gown. She really looked grand; her 
face was flushed and she had a look of determination in 
her eyes that said plainly that if everything was not lost 
she would show flght to the last, and fiercely too; she 
looked more like a general rallying his soldiers for a 
final and deadly fight against the enemy than a young girl 
found out in a trick of petty revenge against her lover. 
Jerry’s courage returned as he looked at her and thought 
what a brave soldier she would make. He felt proud of 
her and resolved to help her to the last. 

^^^ell, Jerry, are they coming here? If so you had 
better decamp and warn your mother. You have done your 


m 


MISS moa 


best; you could n^t do more. Here is something; save 
yourself, if possible.^^ 

^^No, miss; they ^re not coming yet; don^t excite your- 
self. You may save us all yet; let me tell you what has 
happened and he related all that the reader knows. 

Miss Hogg listened, and when she had heard all she 
smiled, saying, ^^Cheer up, J erry, all is not lost ; they dare 
not arrest us without proof; we must not let them get 
these proofs.^^ 

Katy also had heard with fear and trembling all 
that Jerry had said, for she had entered the room after 
dressing, bringing a light with her; but she felt reassured 
when she heard Miss Hogg speak with so much confidence. 

repeated Miss Hogg, ^^they must not find proof, 
and they wont either ; we must be beforehand with them. 
To-morrow Eobert will not be on the watch since he is to 
play sick and has to go for the letter. Now, Jerry, I 
must have that letter. You must disguise yourself so 
that he won’t know you; then follow him and manage to 
get me the letter. You have Mathew’s key?” 

^^No, miss, you have it.” 

^^True; here it is; take it; and should Eobert leave 
the letter on Mathew’s table it will be easy for you to 
get it, but in any case I must have it, if you have to 
knock him down to get it ; but whatever you do, don’t let 
him know that you ’re after the letter or he will suspect us. 
I leave this matter to you, knowing that you will find 
some way with as little danger to us as possible. Be careful, 
and remember that I can’t do anything without this letter, 
and that with it we are saved. Now go and rest; it ’s after 
five o’clock. If you should have anything to say to me 
slip a note under Katy’s door, but not such a one as you 
did to-night ; it must be a love letter ; do you understand ? 
a meeting somewhere. Now you may go. Katy, see if 
the coast is clear.” 

Jerry left the room, feeling that he bore on his 
shoulders a great responsibility. How was he to get that 
letter, and what good would it be to anyone ? True, it 
might delay Mathew’s departure by one day at most, 
but that would not give Miss Hogg time to remove Lady 
Florence and hide her in a safer place, for Mathew and 
Eobert were not such idiots as not to have telegraphed to 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


m 

the Mother Superior at Antwerp not to deliver the child 
to anyone but them (the detectives), and certainly Miss 
Hogg was exposing him unnecessarily to danger; still, he 
would obey her orders; but as to knocking Eobert down, 
he would think twice about it; they were very severe in 
France to those who interfered with the police. 

The next morning he saw Eobert, who said, ‘^1 feel very 
badly to-day, I donT think going to parties agrees with 
me/^ 

^‘^But you are going ouV^ replied Jerry; ^^shall I go 
with you?"^ 

^^JSTo, Thomas; no, my friend; I am only going to the 
druggisFs around the corner/^ 

. ^^Well,’^ said Jerr}^ ^T ^m sorry; but since I canT do 

anything for you I shall go for a long walk by myself/^ 

^^All right ; ires Hen. I T1 see you to-night or to- 
morrow morning,^^ said Eobert, as he left Jerry, who, 
instead of going out, went in again, and soon reappeared 
disguised as an old man with long, gray beard, shabby 
coat and broad-brimmed hat, form rather bent, and carry- 
ing a stick to support himself. He walked about for over 
an hour and then went in the direction of Mathew’s 
hotel, and entering a coffee shop opposite the hotel ordered 
food; he sat at a table facing the hotel to watch for 
Eobert, and wondered how he was going to manage to get 
the letter. He knew that he would fail; hipw could it 
be otherwise? Even if he were to knock Eobert down 
he would be heard ; people would run up and he would have 
no time to search for the letter and get away. And then 
supposing that Mathew had stayed at home — how could 
he manage both of them? ISTo, he could not, for this was 
not a matter of strength but of finesse. Poor Jerry could 
form no plan that was at all feasible. After half an hour’s 
watching he saw Mathew standing on the doorstep of his 
hotel, looking up and down as if tired of waiting; he 
walked a short distance, came back, and seemed about to go 
in; changed his mind, came out again, looked about once 
more, and walked briskly away, turning the corner. 

Jerry waited to see if he would come back; no, five 
minutes elapsed; then Jerry rose from the table, paid the 
waiter, left the cafe, walked down a short distance, crossed, 
retraced his steps, entered the hotel, and seeing no one 


MISS rioG(^ 

about^ hurried upstairs full speed, not at all like an old 
man, as his appearance would indicate; and taking a key 
from his coat pocket he opened Mathew’s door, not without 
fear, for he would be terribly punished if caught at it, 
but he saw no other way. Having entered the room he 
relocked the door and looked for a hiding place. There 
was a clothespress, but probably Mathew’s clothes were in 
there. Under the bed? ISTo, that would not do. They 
were not likely to look there, not suspecting anyone of 
being in the room but themselves; still, should he be 
discovered he could not get out of it fast enough to defend 
himself. 

In one corner was a very large trunk such as traveling 
clerks use for carrying their goods; if it were empty that* 
would do, supposing it to be unlocked; he tried it, and, 
0, joy! it was unlocked and empty, so he got in, jamming 
the end of his stick between the lid and the box to give 
him air; no one would notice it and in an instant he could 
throw back the lid and be in a position to defend himself 
if need be, for he must not be taken, whatever happened; 
and thus thinking, he waited, not feeling very comfortable 
in his hiding place, yet fearing to leave it, for should 
Mathew return, or Eobert come with the letter, he would 
have no time to retreat to his box; so he kept as still 
as possible, for he felt the need of turning from side to 
side; he wast' cramped up, and he said to himself, ^Tf 
I ’m found out I shall cut a poor figure if I have to fight 
Mathew, who is a match for me at my best. I almost wish 
I had hidden under the bed. I think I ’ll get out and 
creep over there.” 

He raised the lid of the trunk and had one leg out 
when he heard hurried footsteps, then the key turning in 
the lock. He let himself fall back in the box in a heap, 
and with such a thump that it was a wonder that whoever 
was unlocking the door did n’t hear him, for he gave a 
groan as he sat an a horseshoe with the nails turned 
upward, which must have been put there by the owner 
of the trunk for good luck, but it certainly turned out 
to be A^ery bad luck for poor Jerry, for, situated as he 
was, he could not remove it, as the nails stuck in the cloth 
of his unmentionables and hurt him, as they had found 
their Avay beyond the cloth; this, with the fear that he 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


279 


might have been heard by the party entering the room, 
did not render his position enviable. Still, he had learned 
that however bad things might be it is possible for them 
to be worse, for his mind was greatly relieved when he 
heard Eobert call out as he entered the room, ^^Well, 
ami^ I have the letter, and we can start as once.^^ Evidently 
he had not heard the noise made by Jerry, and seeing that 
there was no one there, he continued, ^^Well, I might have 
kno^vn that Mathew was out for I had to use my key. 
Why did n’t he wait for me ? Ah, here he comes !” 

And Mathew came in quite oiit of breath, saying, 
^‘^Monsieur Eobert, why did n’t you stop when 1 called you 
just now? I actually ran to reach you, for there was a 
train about to leave that would have taken us to Antwerp ; 
and now we shall have to wait until nine o’clock to-night.” 

*^^0, how could I know that you were behind me when 
I thought you at home waiting for me? You saw that 
I was making all haste since you were unable to catch up 
with me. However, here is the letter;” and he flourished 
it above his head, dancing a pas seul to his own music. 

He was in high glee. ^^Ali, mon ami, we have Miss 
Hogg this time. But what queer names those Americans 
have ! Just think how it would sound in French — 
Mademoiselle CoclionT And he made a face that made 
Mathew laugh and say: 

^^Well, there are certainly very strange names in 
America, and for this reason: the people go there from 
all countries and intermarry, and the strange sounding 
names so hard to pronounce, get mispronounced, and 
even misspelled by their owners, on the wife’s side, of 
course, till the name would not be recognized by their 
ancestors. Most likely Miss Hogg’s name was Hod or 
Hodson some years ago, and has changed little by little 
to Hogg; or it may have been given as a joke, which has 
been kept up till they became so accustomed to it that 
it no longer sounds horrible to them. I, myself, have so 
often said Miss Hogg, and have heard the name so fre- 
quently lately, that it no longer has any meaning to me; 
and so it is with everything when it is often heard.” 

Poor Jerry during this talk was suffering such pain 
that he wished the talkers might both be turned into hogs 
and he would make short work of them and relieve himself 


280 


MISS HOGG 


of the horseshoe that was fastening its nails more and more 
securely in his flesh. The hope of getting the letter 
would have helped him to bear his sufferings, but that 
hope had fled; and if they were going to remain in the 
room until time for their departure he would have to 
show himself, for if his life depended upon it he could 
not have stayed in that box for more than eight hours. 
0, why had he not gotten under the bed ? He might, even 
now, have gone to sleep there; while here, in addition to 
being cramped up, which was quite bad enough, he had to 
put up with the horseshoe, which stuck to him like a 
limpet to a rock. Beads of perspiration ran down his 
face; the pain was insufferable; he must move just a 
little to prevent that big long nail from going any deeper ; 
so he tried to turn very gently; he was succeeding, and 
felt so much relieved that he turned a little faster, hoping 
to disengage the nails entirely, when do^vn came the 
lid of the box with a bang ! He had moved the stick that 
opened the lid to give him air. Poor Jerry nearly fainted 
with fear and lack of air. How he wished he had allowed 
the nails to go right through him, for now he was surely 
discovered, and he had no chance of getting away, not 
the slightest; they were two to one against him who 
could not have used his limbs even to walk across the room. 
He, Miss Hogg, his mother, and Katy would all be taken. 

Strange, that at a moment fraught with such danger to 
himself, he should have thought so kindly of Katy; he 
felt that the loss of her to him was more than the loss 
of his liberty. Yes, shut up in that traveling box, amid 
so many dangers, he discovered that he loved Katy. It is 
truly said that love laughs at locksmiths. 

Many of my readers may say, ^^How absurd for a man 
in Jerry^s situation to be thinking more of love than of 
saving himself!’^ Wrong, my friends; it has often been 
the case, even in greater difficulties than Jerry found him- 
self to be in ; for love has come to many in sinking ships ; 
and young men and women who had never owned that 
they loved one another have sunk in the cruel sea clasped 
in each other^s arms, and have died happy at the thought 
of not being divided. Such is true and holy love ; it reveals 
itself in the moment of greatest danger, not at bstlls 
and parties, _ That is not the same love, 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


281 


CHAPTEE XLI. 

Jerry^'s heart beat with honest love for Katy — happi- 
ness mixed with sorrow because he was not free, and he 
knew that there was no escape for him. All these thoughts 
passed through his mind in a few seconds as he waited for 
Mathew or Eobert to come and ascertain the cause of the 
noise. He had heard Mathew say, ^^What ’s that — did 
you hear that noise like the shutting of a door or a window ? 
It sounded as though it might be in this room — somewhere 
in that dark corner where the press throws a shadow.^^ 

^^It sounded to me as though it might be in the 
corridor,^’ replied Eobert; ^^perhaps there ^s some one at 
the door listening.'’^ He walked to the door, opened it 
and looked into the hallway. ‘‘1 don^t see anyone, but 
of course there has been time to run away ; perhaps whoever 
it was bumped his head against the door. I wonder 
who it could have been!^^ 

^‘1 tell you that the sound was in the room,^^ said 
Mathew; and he began to search under the bed, going 
first to the press, then looking under the bed, and finally 
going to the big box said, wonder if this large trunk 
is locked; I have never had the curiosity to try.^^ 

Jerry had heard him coming, and, mad with fear, he 
grasped the lid of the box inside with all his strength, 
his nails breaking with the effort, but it was his only 
chance, so he held on for dear life as he felt Mathew trying 
to lift the lid, which resisted his efforts and so convinced 
him that it was locked, to the great joy of Jerry, who was 
beginning to hope that he might yet escape discovery. 

Ht^s locked,^^ said Mathew. 

^^Of course,^^ replied Eobert; ^^and probably full of 
goods — perhaps gold, mon ami/' And going to the box 
himself, to the horror of J erry, he took hold of it by the 
handle and stood it up on end and had Jerry standing 
on his head in no time; yet Jerry never let go his grip, 
though he expected it would fly open should Eobert take it 
into his head to turn it bottom upward. 


282 


MISS HOGG 


''Ma foi!'' said Kobert, is heavy enough to be gold/^ 

^^What are you up to?'’ said Mathew, coming in from 
the hall where he had gone for the moment. ^^Do you 
know that there may be breakable goods in that trunk, and 
by turning it on end you may be doing great damage? 
Put it back in its place, and since we have some hours to 
spare we will go down to dinner; then we can go to the 
Boulevard and take a smoke.” 

^^Yes, you’re right;” replied Eobert, letting the box 
fall back in its place with a bang; never thought of 
anything breaking in this trunk or I would n’t have 
touched it. Let ’s put that letter in a safe place.” 

^^Yes,” said the other, ’ll put it in the pocket of 
2 ny traveling overcoat;” and to Jerry’s great joy they both 
left the room, locking the door after them. 

Jerry lifted the lid of his box just a little to get some 
much needed air, then waited a little while, fearing that 
they might return for something; he waited five minutes, 
during which time he undid the horseshoe from where it 
had stuck so fast, and he certainly felt the better for it; 
then, getting out of the trunk with great difficulty, he did 
his best to stand ; his back ached and his neck pained him ; 
it was a wonder that it had not been broken when Eobert 
had stood the box on its end; still, he exerted himself with 
all his might ; he was as pale as a ghost. He saw a bottle 
on the table, hurried towards it, and swallowing some of its 
contents, which proved to be brandy, felt revived. 

How for the letter! Where was the coat? Surely 
Mathew had not taken it with him — and a chill of fear ran 
down his back; it was neither on the bed nor behind the 
door. Poor Jerry looked the picture of despair; he 
had felt sure that he would capture the letter, and his 
disappointment was great indeed, when he felt something 
thick and soft under his feet. 0 joy! it was the coat, 
which must have fallen from the nail when Mathew had 
closed the door. He felt for the letter; yes, there it was, 
and he made sure that it was the right one by looking 
at the address; he could read enough to see that it was 
addressed to some police at Antwerp, and putting it in his 
inside coat pocket, he replaced the coat on the nail, opened 
the door, and, seeing no one about, he locked the door, 
hurried down the stairs, and as he passed the glass door 


THK AiMKKICAX HEIRESS 283 

saw Mathew and Eobert enjoying their dinner and looking 
the picture of content. 

Jerry jumped into a passing cab and was driven to the 
hotel. He hurried upstairs, knocked at Katy’s door, and, 
for the first time looked shy when she opened it. She 
had been very anxiously expecting him, and as he looked 
downcast she said, ^^You have not succeeded, have you, 
Jerry 

^‘Yes, Katy, here ^s the letter. 

Katy caught his arm and pulled him into the room, 
locked the door, and, taking the letter he held towards 
her, said, ^^Wait here. You Ye a clever man, Jerry, but 
you look tired and pale and she left him, to go to Miss 
Hogg, who was resting in her own room, recruiting her 
strength for the coming work. She had told Katy to arouse 
her should Jerry come, either with or without the letter. 

When Katy came calling, ^^Mamie, Mamie, liereY the 
letter, and J erry is in my room,^^ Miss HoggY face beamed 
with joy, and rising from the couch she said, ^^Now we are 
safe if we only act quickly.^^ On seeing Jerry she gave a 
start, fearing that she had been betrayed, for she had 
forgotten that he was disguised, and his make-up was so 
good that .it would have deceived his own mother; but, 
recovering herself, she said, smiling, ^^You really gave 
me a fright; you reminded me of Walgrave. Kow listen 
to my plan. Wait; I fil read this letter first. 

The envelope in which the letter was had not been 
closed, in order, probably, to allow Mathew to read the 
contents of the letter. Miss Hogg read it to herself, 
went back into her room, erased the name of Mathew and 
wrote in its stead ^^Walgrave,^’ with a very good imitation 
of the handwriting; to unsuspecting people it would look 
the same — perhaps a trifle more inky — but in the writing 
of a name that is often observable, if the writer is doubtful 
as to the spelling of it. She then returned to Jerry. 

^‘^What time does the train leave 

^‘^Kine, I heard them say.^^ 

^^Yes, but they will be going themselves by that train 
unless they discover that the letter has disappeared; then 
they will have to apply to the detective office for another, 
and that will occasion some delay ; but they will suspect me 
of having something to do with its disappearance, for it 


284 : 


MISS HOGG 


would benefit no one but me, and I don^t want them to 
implicate me ; I want to come out of this affair with flying 
colors, to turn the tables completely upon them, and to 
be free to come and go wherever I feel inclined. I can^t 
hide ; that ^s out of the question ; and the two detectives and 
I must not be going on the same train and get there at the 
same time ; so there ^s a hitch here that I had not fore- 
seen. They may not even miss the letter before reaching 
Antwerp, and should we meet there they will have the 
best of me, there ^s no doubt about that.^^ 

^^But, Mamie,^^ said Katy, ^fis there no other way of 
reaching Antwerp than by this train 

^^There may be; but I should be too late. Look here, 
Jerry, get me a time table of the trains and steamers 
quick; we have no time to lose; it is two o^ clock already.^^ 

Jerry went out and soon returned with the time 
table. Miss Hogg ran her eye over it, and said that at 
foqr o’clock the steamer Eugenie would leave for Havre 
de Grace. How, it is only three hours from Paris to 
Havre de Grace; if perchance there was a steamer that 
left Havre during the night for Antwerp they would 
be there very early in the morning — as early as if they 
went by the nine o’clock train — and no one would think of 
looking for her on that line. She took up the newspaper 
and ran her eye down the column of French steamers 
from Havre to other ports. Yes, there was one at mid- 
night going to Antwerp; that would do. But there was 
still another obstacle to be removed, and that the worst 
of all; by going to Antwerp by way of Havre she would 
leave no clew behind, but she was in danger of meeting 
Mathew and Eobert there; she could not get there very 
much sooner than they could, and she would not have time 
to remove Lady Florence before their arrival. 

^‘^There’s only one way,” said Jerry; H must manage 
somehow to make them miss their train so as to give 
you time to act without too much hurry, which would 
look suspicious to the Antwerp police, and spoil all.” 

^Tf you .can manage that, Jerry, all will be well.” 

^^All right, Miss Hogg, go on with your plan, for of 
course you have one, though I can’t see it. Don’t trouble 
in the least about Mathew and Eobert; they won’t get 
to Antwerp before to-morrow night,” 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 285 

that give me time to remove the child, and you 
to get to a place of safety 

^^Yes, plenty/^ 

^^Now, you leave us and attend to Mathew and Eobert, 
and don't let anyone know that I have left the hotel." 

^^Is Katy going?" 

^^iSTo; she will tell you my plans when you have delayed 
those two fellows. I 'm going to take your mother with 
me. N’ow, Katy, see that the coast is clear, and when you 
have seen Jerry out safely come back to me." 

Miss Hogg and her maid soon left the hotel, and, 
taking a cab, were driven straight to Ko. 25 Eue Mont- 
martre. The detectives were not likely to follow; they 
knew the place, and were so sure that they had their game 
that they would not have troubled to go after her had 
they seen her; for, of course they were not aware that she 
knew they had found out where Lady Florence was. 
Had they suspected that they had had a listener at 
ilathew's door it would have altered the case, and they 
would have been in hot pursuit of her, for they knew she 
was clever, and they feared her; but they believed her 
to be in total ignorance of their discovery, and they ex- 
pected to get Lady Florence into their own hands before 
she had wind of what they were doing; so that the coast 
was clear for Miss Hogg, and Mathew and Eobert, instead 
of being employed in watching her movements, were having 
a good time over their dinner, laughing and joking at 
the clever trick they were playing a certain dark-skinned 
young lady with a queer name. 

^^Ah, mon cher, we have her at last! What do you 
think she 'll say when we tell her that we have the young 
lady — will she faint, will she knock us down, or will 
she beg for mercy ?" 

can't exactly tell you what Miss Hogg will do," re- 
plied Mathew; ^^but there is one thing that I am perfectly 
sure she will not do, and that is faint away, whatever the 
news we bring; and also that we shall have the length 
of her tongue ; not that she has ever used it against me, 
but Walgrave has told me that he had been staggered by it ; 
she actually pulled off his false beard, exposed him in a 
hotel in London, and declared him to be a blackmailer; 


286 


MISS HOGQ 


and he was almost kicked out by the owner, who took Miss 
Plogg’s part/^ 

‘‘Ha, ha, ha!^^ laughed Robert; ^^but she^s a brave 
demoiselle, and I long to see how she will behave. I 
think I dl keep in the background, mon ami, behind you, 
and let you receive the first shots. I dl have quite enough 
of the second volley; and besides I shall have that little 
vixen Katy, who is quite capable of scratching my eyes 
out; and I care very much for my eyes, though they have 
not served me very much, even doing my best. The little 
coquette must have a heart of stone.^^ 

^^My dear Monsieur Robert, I wish with all my heart 
that this affair was over ; it ^s hard to say what tricks she 
will play us 3 ^et. You are sure that no one saw you at 
25 Rue Montmartre?’^ 

^^Quite sure, mon ami; if I had been seen they would 
have made a move by this time, and they have n’t done 
so. I met Thomas this morning ; he wanted to go out with 
me, but I told him that I was ill, and was only going to the 
druggist’s, so that he thinks I am in the hotel, and Miss 
Hogg is not likely to send for me, believing me to be ill. 
I shall show myself at the hotel shortly before my departure 
and see how matters are working, and then slip out 
and join you at the station. What do you say to that plan 
— will it suit you. Monsieur Mathew?” 

^^Yes. It will be best for us not to be seen too 
much together. I ’ll meet you at the station at a quarter 
to nine. How let us go to the Boulevard and smoke a 
cigar.” 

After walking and smoking for some time they parted, 
Mathew returning to his rooms, and Robert hurrying 
through a by-street to the hotel, on entering which he 
met Thomas, who accosted him, saying, ^^0, Robert, I ’m 
glad you’re better. Are you going out or just coming 
in ?” 

was just going out,” replied Robert; have been 
sitting all day, and I feel stiff; but I forgot my hand- 
kerchief in my room and was just going back for it when 
I met you.” 

^^Well, all right,” said Thomas; H’ll wait for you 
outside, and we can go out together^ since you are so 
well again,” 


THE AMERIOAH HEIRESS 287 

^^Very well, my friend, I ^11 be with you in a minute. 
Where Katy, ma bien-aimee, have you seen her 

^^Yes ; she ^s upstairs with her mistress ; shall I call 
her 

no/’ said Eobert, who thought he had quite 
enough to do to get rid of Thomas without having Katy 
added, who might insist on going out with them ; ^^no, no ; 
don’t disturb her ; I ’m not well enough to go far, and 
she does n’t like you, so leave her with Miss Hogg and he 
hurried to his room, intending to stay there a while, and if 
Thomas came in quest of him he would tell him he felt 
worse and wished to be alone; then he would slip out 
disguised and join Mathew. So he entered his room, and 
was quite surprised to see a beautiful bouquet of flowers 
on his dressing table. ^^Aha, this must be the work of 
Katy, or perhaps of one of the other maidservants. If 
it is Katy, she must like me, poor girl, and she has not 
a heart of stone, as I have said. That’s the worst of 
being good looking — you can’t look at a girl but she must 
fall in love with you. How sweet these flowers are !” and 
he buried his nose in them. ^^0, my sweet Katy, if these 
are your flowers — always supposing that they are — I must 
say that it was nice of you, ma belle, and I prefer their 
presence to yours. Ah, ha, ha !” and he inhaled their 
perfume with delight, and drawing up an armchair to his 
dressing table, he sat down, took the bouquet in his hands, 
enjoyed its perfume to his heart’s content, ever and anon 
looking at his handsome face in the glass, and saying to 
himself that it was no w^onder that women favored him, 
and he laughed, well pleased with himself. Then he 
remained silent. I suppose his thoughts were too pleasant 
for words. Then he closed his eyes, probably to recall some 
pretty girls who, in his vanity, he supposed were breaking 
their hearts for him — perhaps Katy. 

If he had invoked Katy’s spirit it had answered, for 
the door opened and she peeped in, drew back, and soon 
returned, not alone, but with Jerry, carrying an armful of 
clothes. What could it mean? Katy actually walked up 
to Eobert and looked him straight in the face, yet Eobert 
did not move; his eyes remained closed and he still held 
fast to the bouquet with both hands. 

Jerry having placed the clothes on the bed, also took 


288 


MISS Hoaa 


a look at Robert, and shook him, but Robert did not 
move; he was fast asleep. ^^He^ll do,^’ whispered Jerry; 
^^take those flowers away, and mind you destroy them ; then 
bring me those three bottles of brandy and wine — one full, 
one half full, and one empty. Hurry.^^ 

Katy went off with the flowers under her apron, and 
Jerry busied himself with the clothes he had brought with 
him, which proved to be a large traveling overcoat and 
a large woolen scarf. After putting these garments in 
order on the bed, he met Katy at the door; she had the 
bottles and glasses; he arranged them on a small side 
table, undid a pack of cards and scattered them among the 
bottles and glasses, then rolled the armchair in which 
Robert was sitting fast asleep, near the table, placed 
another chair opposite, as a vis-a-vis, and, locking the door 
inside, he placed the key on the table; then, opening the 
window, he went on the balcony, closing the window behind 
him, got into the hallway by another window, rejoined 
Katy, told her everything was all right so far as Robert was 
concerned, and left the hotel. 

It was half past eight. Mathew must be on his way to 
the station, if it was his intention to go; but Jerry said 
to himself, laughing, ^^He won’t go, though he may come 
to the station in search of Robert and to tell him of his 
loss, for by this time he must have missed his overcoat 
and the precious letter.” And, sure enough, as Jerry 
approached the station he saw Mathew anxiously scanning 
the faces of every one who passed him, while his face 
bore a look of disappointment. He looked at his watch 
every minute ; then walked among the crowd looking 
for Robert; but no Robert came. 


5DHE AMERICA]^ HEIRESS ' 


^89 


CHAPTEK XLII. 

It was nine o’clock. The train was ready to start. 
Mathew ran np and down the platform looking at every 
carriage; then the whistle blew; the train began to move 
and was soon out of the station^ leaving Mathew standing 
on the platform looking after it in despair. What could 
have happened to Eobert? Why had he not come at the 
appointed time ? There was something wrong somewhere ; 
and who could have taken his overcoat? Could Eobert 
have played him a trick and stolen a march on him by 
going alone to claim Lady Florence? iSTo, it could not be; 
and he felt a flush of shame at the very thought. ^^Xo, 
no ; I won’t believe it ; he ’s a gentleman, and so far has 
acted frankly with me. Eeally our calling makes us suspect 
every one ; still, I won’t believe it ; I ’ll go to the hotel 
and inquire for him.” 

He did so. A servant went up to his room, and came 
down reporting that he was not in. Another servant 
said that he had heard him early in the morning tell 
Thomas that he was going out with him. Thomas had 
waited for him outside, but he had not seen Eobert come 
down. He might have come, met Thomas, and gone out 
with him. Thomas came at that moment, however, and 
declared that Eobert had given him the slip, for he had 
not come to meet him as he had promised to do. Mathew 
thought this quite probable, as Eobert was to meet him at 
the station. Something must have happened to him on the 
way, or he might have gone to his hotel and waited there 
for him. Had he forgotten their arrangement ? This was 
very provoking, for they had lost their train Yes, it might 
be so, but that did not explain to him the loss of his coat, 
in the pocket of which was the letter. Did whoever 
took the coat know about the letter? Ho, the coat was 
not stolen for the sake of the letter, for that could be of 
no use to anyone except themselves. Ho, it had been taken 
by a common thief. Had Eobert discovered the thief and 
gone after him? But how could he have known that the 


290 


MISS HOGC 


coat had been stolen? ^^Eeall}?-/^ thought Mathew, am 
becoming, as I used to be in England, dazed. Can Miss 
Hogg be at the bottom of this? But no; I am getting 
worse and worse. How could a lady go to my room and 
run away with my overcoat ? This is madness ! Had she 
gone there, which is not probable, she might have taken 
the letter, but not the overcoat; and, again, no one knew 
about the letter but Eobert and myself. Could Eobert 
have done it? 0, there, I ^m at it again; I must be going 
m.ad » 

By this time Mathew had reached his hotel ; he went up 
to his room, hoping to find Eobert there, but he did not; 
he hurried to the chief of police and told him all that 
had occurred. To his surprise, he saw that the chief 
suspected Eobert of having gone to Antwerp, and said to 
him, ^Aionsieur Mathew, donT be anxious about Eobert; 
go home and wait, and probably to-morrow you fil receive 
a telegram from him telling you that he has the young 
lady safe and sound.^^ 

Mathew^s face reddened with anger and indignation. 
IIoAv dare Monsieur Eobert to take it upon himself to 
act without his leave? 

^Terhaps he thought he could do better alone, with 
less danger, I mean. He is a clever man, and as long 
as he finds the young lady what need you care? These 
detectives are slippery fellows. Do you English detectives 
never try to overreach one another? The French ones do, 
I assure you.^^ 

Mathew felt a little less sore over EoberFs trick as he 
remembered that Walgrave and himself had tried their 
'best to outdo each other; still, he felt humiliated, and he 
resolved to give Eobert a piece of his mind, whether he 
found the child or not; and, thanking the chief of police, 
he returned to his hotel and retired, not in the best of 
humors. 

The next morning he went to his breakfast at the 
usual hour, but there was no letter or telegram awaiting 
him. Eobert seemed to have taken the whole business off 
his hands without the least excuse or explanation for 
so doing, and Mathew had never before felt so enraged, 
nor had he ever been made to feel himself of so little 
consequence. 


THE AMERTCAlSr HEIRESS 


291 


When, at nine o’clock, he had heard nothing from 
Eobert, he left his hotel and went to the chief of police, 
who, after hearing his complaint, said: ^^Wait a moment; 
we shall soon hear something; supposing Eobert to have 
left here last night he must have reached Antwerp in the 
night, and he could not have been able to call at the con- 
vent before eight o’clock in the morning; he would not 
have been admitted in a case like this one, in the middle 
of the night, so he must have waited until morning before 
presenting his letter to the chief of police, who may have ac- 
companied him to the convent ; or should he have had other 
pressing matters on hand, he would send one of his de- 
tectives with Eobert. There is always some unforeseen 
delay in these matters. Now, let us say that, taking every- 
thing into consideration, they arrived at the Convent des 
Ursulines, which is in the outskirts of the town, at nine 
o’clock; then come explanations; the nuns will not give 
up the child unless they are sure that everything is all 
right; but, being assured by the Antwerp police that it 
'is, they may deliver up the child; as the chief of ^police 
shoulders the responsibility they allow him to take her; 
but, you see, it takes time; so that I do not really expect 
a telegram before ten o’clock; it is almost ten now. Stay 
here; I will send one of the men to your hotel to see if 
one has come.” 

The man was sent and soon returned reporting that 
there was nothing there for Monsieur Mathew. 

The chief looked grave and said, wdll soon clear 
up this matter;” and, writing a telegram, he sent it to 
Antwerp to the mother superioress of the convent. Ee- 
turning to Mathew, he said, ^^We shall soon know now what 
is going on down there. Your mind will soon be relieved, 
Mr. Mathew; in less than an hour you will have news of 
Monsieur Eobert.” 

The chief was quite right, but the news did not come 
in the manner he expected. 

Mathew could not keep quiet ; he paced the room, then 
went out, saying, ’ll be back soon.” As he came out 
of the door he was almost upset by a gentleman coming 
in on a run. 

^^Mille pardons/' said the newcomer, trying to pass 


292 


MISS HOGG 


Mathew, not even looking at the party he had nearly 
knocked down. 

But Mathew seized him by the arm and detained him, 
saying, ^‘You here. Monsieur Eobert V’ 

^^What ! Mr. Mathew^ ! Ah, mon ami, I was in search 
of you. Why are you here — ^why are you not gone to 
Antwerp ? Why have you waited, even if I failed to meet 
3^ou according to promise? You had the letter and could 
do without me,^^ said Eobert, excitedly. have just 
left your hotel and was told that you were here; the man 
YOU sent to fetch some letters or telegrams left word 
to have them sent here, so I have come myself to see what 
it all means.^^ 

‘^'Come inside f said Mathew, feeling very much 
ashamed for having doubted him. So Eobert, placing his 
arm in that of Mathew, went in with him to the chiefs 
office. 

exclaimed the chief, ^^so you have come. Monsieur 
Eobert! Did you come by telegraph? We have been 
telegraphing for you, or at least for news of you. Where 
do you come from? Have you been to Antwerp? But 
in that case you could hardly be back so soon. Explain 
yourself. Your friend. Monsieur Mathew, has been very 
anxious about you. Why did you not meet him at the 
railroad station last night, and do you know anything 
about his overcoat, which has disappeared with the letter 
‘^‘^Yes, Monsieur Jourdain, I know about the overcoat, 
but there is no letter in the pocket of it.^^ 

^^You know about my coat exclaimed Mathew in 
surprise, ^^and where is it?^^ 

^^In my room, mon ami] and how it got there is beyond 
my comprehension;^’ and he related what had occurred 
the previous night as far as he knew, and what the reader 
already knows. ^^Well,” he continued, must have gone 
to sleep with the flowers in my hands, for I remember 
nothing more. This morning I awoke quite surprised to 
find myself sitting in my armchair before the table, on 
which were three bottles, one of wine, half empty; the 
empty one had contained brandy, and the other was filled 
with port wine ; two glasses half emptied stood there, and a 
pack of soiled playing cards was strewn about. I could 
not believe my own eyes ; I thought I must have the night- 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


293 


mare; my head was so heavy and I felt so sleepy that 
I closed my eyes again and must have slept for hours, for 
when I awoke again the sun Avas shining brightly. I looked 
at my watch, but it had stopped at three o^clock, so that 
I could not have wound it the night before. I looked 
around my room. I had not been dreaming, for there 
Avas the table with the bottles, glasses, and cards, and on 
my bed lay something that did not belong to me; I took 
it up, and to my great surprise found it Avas your coat.""^ 

^^My coat ! Impossible ! Hoav came it to be there ? 
I had left it hanging on my room door, and when I went 
home to put it on to go to the station I found my door 
unlocked and the coat and woolen scarf gone ; and you tell 
me that you found the coat in your room. But pardon me 
for interrupting you. Monsieur Eobert; please go on.^^ 

^^Well, there ^s little more to tell, mon ami. Seeing 
both your coat and 3^our Avoolen scarf on my bed, I felt 
sure that you had come to my room in search of me, 
not having found me at the train ; still, that Avould not have 
accounted for your leaving your coat behind, nor for the 
bottles on the table, and I can assure you, foi cVJionnete 
homme^ that I did not drink any of the contents of those 
bottles,^^ he said, Avith some show of indignation, as he 
saw both the chief and Mathew smile, for they really 
believed that Eobert must haA^e taken too much the night 
before, and was inventing this fine story about the flowers 
which seemed to have disappeared Avhile he slept, for when 
asked to produce them he could not do it. Still, the coat 
remained to be accounted for. Hoav had it got there? 

‘^^Well, go on,^^ said Monsieur Jourdain. ^^What did 
you do next?’^ 

H tried to leave my room, but the door was locked, 
and no key was in the lock ; it had not fallen on the floor ; 
I turned to the table, and there it was among the bottles. 
I never put it there, I am quite certain. I ran downstairs 
and looked at the clock, and to my surprise and conster- 
nation it was half past nine. I called a passing cab and 
went to Mr. Mathew^s hotel, expecting to be told that 
he had not been seen since last night, but, on the contrary, 
heard that he had breakfasted, gone out, and since then 
had sent to inquire for letters and Avas waiting for them 
at the 'prefecture de police, and here I am, How, Avhat 


294 


MISS HOGG 


can you make of it all? For my part I am nonplused; I 
give it up; and my head is so heavy that I could go off 
to sleep again. 0, you need not laugh, it was not what 
I imbibed last night, for, as far as that goes, I might as 
well suspect you. Monsieur Mathew, of having taken 
your share with me, since you forgot your coat and com- 
forter on my bed. What do you say to that, mon ami ? — 
and yet I know that it is not so.^^ 

^^He is right,^^ said the chief; ^^there is some mystery 
here that we shall have to solve before we find ourselves 
on the right track. 0, here comes the answer to my 
telegram, but, of course, it will be worthless; it will only 
have puzzled the mother superioress.^^ 

Monsieur Jourdain opened the telegram leisurely, as 
though it were of no consequence; but at a glance at the 
contents an exclamation of surprise escaped him, and he 
seemed greatly interested; then, laying it on the table 
and covering it with his right hand, he said, ^^Well, gentle- 
men, this may throw light upon this mystery. At least, 
Mr. Mathew, your mind will be relieved in regard to Lady 
Florence ; she is by this time probably in England.^^ 

Mathew’s face flushed with disappointment; some one 
had been ahead of him in discovering the child^s retreat 
and removing her. Had he not lost his train last night 
he might have arrived there in time; now he had lost the 
honor and the reward. All this passed through his mind 
like a flash of lightning. The flush left his face and he 
was very pale when he asked what was in the telegram. 

As for Eobert, he leaned forward with staring eyes, 
and was all eagerness to hear who had forestalled them. 

The chief, taking up the telegram, read as follows: 
^^This morning an English detective came to our convent 
accompanied by our chief of police and an Euglish bonne 
soeur. The name of the gentleman was Walgrave, from 
London; his papers were correct — our chief had examined 
them, and also his detective badge ; he is emplo3^Gd by Lady 
Montgomery to search for her niece, who, he said, was in 
our convent ; he had traced her there. I denied that Lady 
Florence was in our convent, but he insisted that Miss 
Isabelle Eeynolds was Lady Florence, and that I might 
question the child, which I did, and, after some hesitation, 
the little girl admitted that she was Lady Florence, so I 


^THE AMERlCAJ^ HEIRESS 


g95 

had to give her up, and the bonne soeur took charge of her. 
The English detective went away laughing merrily with 
our chief of police, and saying, ^We are going back to 
England by way of Hastings; I long to place this young 
lady in her aunt^s arms. What rejoicing there will be V 
^Yes,^ said our chief, ^and the good reward.^ ^Yes, 
monsieur,^ said Walgrave, The reward and the honor; it 
will mean promotion for me.^ That is all we know, M. 
Jourdain. I have told you everything in detail, for your 
telegram of this morning made me uneasy. 0 , I forgot to 
say that it was half past eight oYlock when they all left our 
convent. They had a carriage at the gate.^^ 

^^That ^s all, except the mother superioresses signature,^^ 
said Monsieur Jourdain, refolding the telegram. 

Mathew was very pale, and there was a tremor in his 
voice as he said, ^T am pleased that the young lady is 
found, but I wish that it had been my luck to bring her 
back to England. 0 , Monsieur Eobert, I told you that 
there was danger in delay, though you would not admit it.^^ 
^^Ah, mon ami, I am sorry ; I ^111 unhappy on your 
account, and I can do nothing to rectify my mistake. What 
do you intend to do now?’^ 

^^Yothing, as far as Lady Florence is concerned. They 
donT need me any longer.^^ 

^^Then you will go back to England 
^^Ho, I am going to hunt down Jerry and his mother, 
and through them implicate Miss Flogg, and have her 
punished. I shall want your testimony, for you heard 
them discuss Lady Florence.^^ 

^^Yes, my friend, I did, and I will help you, foi 
d'honncte homme; let us not delay this time, but strike 
while the iron is hot.^^ 

^‘What about the coat?^^ said the chief; ^That is a 
mystery so far.^^ 

^^Yes,^^ said Mathew, ^^and must so remain until we 
have captured Jerry and his mother.^^ 

Mathew and Eobert went straight to the hotel, and 
called for Thomas. The clerk replied that early that 
morning a letter had come for him from his master, telling 
him to join him in London, and he had left immediately on 
receipt of it, and had asked him (the clerk) to say good-by 
to Eobert, whom he was sorry to leave without seeing. 


296 


MISS nom 


Robert and Mathew looked at each other as if to 
^^What is to be our next move? We are checkmated here 
again.'^ Then a light came into Robertas eyes, as he said, 
^^Leave me for a moment; I must see Katy/^ 

Mathew left the hotel and Robert went upstairs in 
quest of Katy, and had the good fortune to meet her in one 
of the corridors. She would have passed him with a toss 
of her head if he hadn't stopped her by saying, ^^Well, 
Katy, ma clierie, wonT you speak to me 

she replied, did nT think you cared ; since you 
have had Thomas he has been everything to you, and I 
have been cast off like an old shoe. What do you want?'^ 
^^0, ma belle Katy, what has become of Thomas? I 
want to speak to him and I canT find him.^^ 

^^0, indeed ! Always Thomas ! If you ^re not careful 
you ^11 have Thomas on the brain soon ; and I like your 
cheek to come and ask me about him when you know that 
I always hated him. Is -he likely to come and tell me 
where he ^s going? Ko, I donT know and I donT care. 
Anything more you want to know? You^re a nice foot- 
man, ainT you? My mistress hired you to interpret for 
her and you Ye never on hand when you Ye wanted. And 
what are you masquerading in gentlemenY clothes for ? Are 
you trying to fool some other girl as you did me ?^^ Having 
given him that crusher she passed on to her mistressY 
rooms and banged the door in his face, for he had 
followed her, hoping to gain some information by an 
unguarded word, for if he made her angry she might forget 
herself, and so give him a clew concerning Jerry Y where- 
abouts; but she checkmated him there again by slamming 
the door in his face. He had intended to ask for Miss 
Hogg, and to make her talk also by telling her that he 
no longer desired to remain in her service. 

Katy had played her part well by making him believe 
that Miss Hogg was displeased at his long absence, and, 
having done that, she thought it wise to beat a retreat; 
she did nY want to give him time to ask for Miss Hogg so 
that he might make his excuses to her, for, had he insisted 
on doing so, her refusal might have made him suspicious, 
and that would nY do, for Miss Hogg had not yet returned 
from her trip, wherever she had gone. 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


297 


CHAPTEE XLIII. 

We left Miss Hogg going to Mrs. Jerry’s with Katy. 
Let ns explain how she managed to impersonate Walgrave 
and remove the child from the convent at Antwerp, for 
of course the reader has guessed that it was Miss Hogg, 
and not Walgrave, who had done it. 

Mistress and maid arrived safely at Ho. 25 Eue Moni- 
niartre, where they kept their disguises in case of need, 
and they soon had Mrs. Jerry disguised as a nun ; her mild 
old face and quiet manners went far toward making the 
disguise seem real. After being told what was expected of 
her she was told to take a cab and go to the steamer 
Eugenie to take passage for Havre de Grace, and that 
]\Iiss Hogg would join her there disguised as a gentleman 
detective, but that she was not to notice her until after 
they had landed in Havre, and she must not forget her 
role of ho7ine soeur, and the less she talked the better; 
if they could outwit the detectives this time all would be 
well, and she would then send her to America, where her 
son would meet her in a short time. 

Mrs. Jerry said that she would do her best, but begged 
Miss Hogg to return the young lady to her people. 

^Jf I could do so without danger to all of us I would 
certainly do it,” replied Miss Hogg; ^^and had I known 
all the trouble it would entail I would never have taken her. 
I was mad with rage at their insults and wanted to 
retaliate, and could see no other way to do it. I knew it 
would be a terrible blow to Lady Montgomery and to all 
her family, and I didn’t look far enough ahead to see 
the consequences of my deed until it was too late; and 
now, if they can prove that I have taken her — they know 
I have — ^but so far they have been unable to prove it — it 
would, so far as I am concerned, make a great scandal, and 
cost my father a great deal of money; and as for you and 
your son it would be imprisonment for a great many years. 
So you see that we must go on, and this will be the last 
time that I will mix you or your son up in the matter 


298 


MISS HOGG 


until all danger is over. ISTow you had better go; you 
have money. I am almost ready myself, but we must 
not be seen together on this side of the water.^^ 

Katy walked to the door with the good sister, then 
returned to Miss Hogg to complete her disguise. 

‘^^Be very careful, Katy; my make-up must be perfect, 
for I shall be seen in the daytime.""^ 

^^Sure, Mamie ; you bet I ^11 do my best ; and what fun 
it will h.e to take in both that Mathew and Eobert V’ 

^^And Walgrave,^^ laughed Miss Hogg. ^^0, my heart, 
how mad he 'll be when he hears that I impersonated him ! 
But we ^re going too fast ; it is n^t done yet ; I only hope 
none of the Antwerp police know him, or I dl be done for. 
I hn much younger than he is.^^ 

^^Well, Mamie, could n^t you say that you ^re his cousin, 
and that you are the one who is employed on Lady Mont- 
gomery’s case?^^ 

^^Yes, I might do so if necessary. I must keep my wits 
about me, for things are sure never to go as you want 
them to. Kow I must go. I really look a fine young 
fellow,^^ — looking at herself in the glass; — won’t dis- 
grace Walgrave. How lucky it was that I got his badge, for 
without it I could do nothing in this case. How, Katy, 
remove all signs of disguise and everything that belongs 
to me, for you may depend upon it the detectives will come 
here as soon as they miss Jerry. Tell Jerry my plans and 
that he is to meet me to-morrow night near the railway 
station, for I shall return by train, and before returning to 
the hotel I must know what has happened during mv 
absence. I shall not be able to come here to change my 
disguise; he must find me another place and manage to 
get some of my own clothes there during the day. As 
for you, don’t leave the hotel for fear of some one inquiring 
for me; I must be supposed to be in my own rooms. 
You try to manage that all right, and I think I can do the 
rest if Jerry prevents Mathew and Eobert from following 
me to-night.” 

^Hle will do it, Mamie, so don’t trouble about him, 
but go ahead with your own part of the program.” 

^^Well, good-by, Katy, I ’m off ;” and Miss Hogg ran 
down the stairs whistling, met the landlady in the hall, 
who took him (disguised) for a visitor; smiled, nodded, 


5:HE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


299 


and passed on, got in a cab on the way to the pier, bought 
a ticket at the office, boarded the Eugenie, walked about 
till he saw the bonne soeur sitting on one of the benches 
udth her beads in her hands and her eyes cast down 
devoutly; then he went to his stateroom and remained 
there to all appearances very seasick. He had a long and 
very rough trip and arrived at Havre de Grace at eight 
o’clock. 

The sister had not escaped seasickness, and she looked 
pale and ill. Miss Hogg walked on ahead, the* sister 
following at some distance. Miss Hogg stopped at the 
Cafe Anglais and seemed to be examining the tempting 
food exposed in the window ; the sister came to a standstill, 
and as she passed the cafe was also attracted by the French 
delicacies. Her mol de mer did not seem to have interfered 
with her appetite. Miss Hogg whispered, without looking, 
^^Go in, ask for a private room and order your supper; 
at eleven o’clock ask for a guide to take you on board 
the steamer Sultan, which leaves for Antwerp at twelve.” 

The nun went in, apparently very timid, and asked for 
a private room. The hotel keeper was all empressemenf 
for the bonne soeur. Miss Hogg walked on, then came 
back, ordered supper, ate it, and went out again, not daring 
to remain there all the evening for fear of some English 
folks coming in striking up an acquaintance with her. At 
eleven o’clock she' was on board the Sultan, and soon saw 
the bonne soeur come on. So far everything had gone 
right. 

They reached Antwerp in due time. The bonne soeur 
was directed to a quiet restaurant, many idlers proposing 
to show her the way; she chose a young boy among the 
crowd and gave him a franc for his trouble. Miss Hogg, 
having seen her safely housed, went to a small cafe and 
had an early breakfast, then went to the prefecture of 
police and had a long talk with the chief, relating the 
whole business — how he had followed Miss Hogg to Paris 
and had secured proof against her by having discovered 
the young lady’s retreat, but that before arresting her he 
had thought it best to secure Lady Florence for fear that 
some of her accomplices might remove her; and though it 
was his intention to have Miss Hogg punished, still, the 
most essential thing was the recovery of the young lady; 


300 


MISS Hoaa 


then they would attend to the punishment of the guilty 
parties. 

‘^^So your name is Walgrave/^ said the chief of police; 
^^you are very young to be intrusted with such an important 
case ; excuse my saying so ; here we always employ old gray- 
beards, as having more experience.^^ 

^^Surely, monsieur, since I have been so successful as to 
track Lady Florence to the Convent des Ursulines they 
will not have to find fault with me because of my black 
mustache,^^ giving it a curl with his finger and thumb, 
and laughing merrily. 

^^You are right. Monsieur Walgrave, quite right. I 
am at your disposal. Why did not Monsieur Eobert 
accompany you ? I see his name in this letter.^^ 

thought it best to have him watch Miss Hogg so that 
she may not give us the slip.^^ 

^Wery good ; I see that you understand detective work. 
You will allow me to see your badge. Monsieur Walgrave 

^^Certainly.^^ And the badge was produced. 

Everything having been declared satisfactory, the chief 
sent for a cabriolet and invited Mr. Walgrave to ride, 
and they left for the convent, picking up the bonne soeur 
on the way, Walgrave explaining that he had brought her 
with him from England to take charge of the young lady, 
as he had not dared tell Lady Montgomery that he 
had found her niece until he actually had her in his 
possession, because they had already disappointed her once 
when they had felt sure that they had her. 

^^You are a prudent man, I see,^^ replied the chief, 
with some appreciation of the good sense of so young 
a man. 

The bonne soeur had said but little, nor was she 
expected to talk; she was employed by Walgrave to take 
care of the child whom she had never seen, and of course 
she did not feel interested in her beyond being paid for her 
trouble. 

They arrived at the convent before eight oYlock, 
secured the child as we have related, and had left the 
convent by half past eight, the chief of police taking them 
back to town and leaving them at the office of the steamer 
which would take them to Hastings; he saw Walgrave 
purchase the ticket, and wishing them bon voyage, he de- 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 301 

parted with a ten pound note in his hand, which Walgrave 
had left there when he shook hands with him. 

As soon as the chief had turned the corner Walgrave 
said, ^We have time for a walk before the steamer leaves, 
have we not?^^ addressing the clerk. 

^^Yes,^^ replied the latter, ^^an hour.^^ 

^^AA^ell, then, let us go ; and we need not return here, but 
go straight on board.'’^ So they left, the bonne soeur lead- 
ing the way to an obscure street where the room was that 
she had occupied after having placed Lady Florence in 
a boarding school. As she had a key there was no trouble 
in getting into her room. They met the landlady, who 
said, bonne soeur, oil allez-vousf" 

Mrs. Jerry, guessing what she was asking, said in 
English, ^^To Mrs. Martin’s room ; I ’m her sister ; she 
is going to meet me here, and we are going back to England, 
so that she will not require the room any longer. Here ’s 
the money instead of a week’s notice.” 

’m sorry to lose my tenant,” said the woman quite 
indifferently, and, pocketing the money, she left them. 

Mrs. Jerry, having some of her clothes there, had soon 
made a change in her appearance; then, making a bundle 
of her cap and veil, they left without having been seen, 
and reached the steamer — not the one bound for Hastings, 
but for Hamburg. Walgrave saw them on board, giving 
Mrs. Jerry a letter in which she would find her orders and 
a good sum of money. He then left them, took the train 
for Brussels and went from there to Paris, reaching there 
about ten o’clock at night, Jerry meeting him outside the 
station and leading him to a small room in the Chaussee 
d’ Ant in. A transformation being soon made. Miss Hogg 
gave the parcel in which she had wrapped up her disguise 
to Jerry, who was himself disguised as an old man, and 
told him to go to the hotel with it and see if the coast was 
clear. He had told her all that had happened during her 
absence, and how he had got rid of the two detectives by 
putting one to sleep and stealing the other’s coat, which 
made Miss Hogg laugh heartily. She told Jerry to meet 
her the next day in that little room and she would tell him 
what to do next. 


302 


MISS HOaG 


CHAPTEE XLIV. 

Jerry went to the hotel and asked for Miss Hogg, 
saying that the parcel was for her, and that he had orders 
not to deliver it to anyone but herself or her maid. Katy 
was sent for, and the parcel was given to her with a note, 
the old man leaving the hotel without having been recog- 
nized as Jerry. Katy, after reading the note, slipped out 
of the hotel by the back door, and an hour later came in 
with Miss Hogg just as if they had both been for a walk. 

Eobert was on the watch, and could n’t understand why 
he had not seen them go out, but he was sure that Katy 
was in the hotel some hours previous, for had she not 
slammed the door in his face, so that if she could have 
gone out unseen "by him why could not Miss Hogg ? He 
approached her, saying, ^A¥hen you are at leisure I should 
like to speak to you, madam.” 

^Well, what is it you want? It is to excuse yourself, 
I suppose, for not coming last night when I sent Katy for 
you. Well, let me tell you that I want none of your excuses, 
and when I pay a servant it is that I may have him when- 
ever I want him ; not to have him gallivanting about town 
and coming to me just when it suits him, as you have done 
ever since I hired you; so here’s your money, my fine 
fellow, and I discharge you from my service.” 

And Eobert found himself dismissed before he had the 
opportunity to give up his situation, and he thought the 
least said the soonest mended, as he felt sure that she 
knew he was a detective ; so he only muttered that he was 
sorry if he had displeased her. She walked upstairs with- 
out another look, while he turned to Katy saying, 
hien-aimee, I shall regret you forever,” placing his hand 
on his heart. 

^^How many girls have you said that to?” she said, 
laughing, and tossing her head she ran after her mistress, 
leaving Eobert to console himself as best he could, which he 
did by going and repeating it all to Mathew. 

Mathew and Eobert had both been at 25 Eue Mont- 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


303 


niartre, and had found no trace of Mrs. Jerry ; she had paid 
her rent and gone away, they had been told, and had not 
said where she w^as going, and no one had asked her. 
There was nothing strange about her. So that all clews 
ivere lost as far as the Jerrys were concerned, and so far 
nothing could be proved against Miss Hogg. 

^T\h, mon ami/^ Eobert Rad said, ^The demoiselle will 
disappear too.^^ 

'‘No, no,^^ said Mathew, “sl person like her cannot dis- 
appear; her father is a millionaire, • and through her we 
may yet have Jerry, and as soon as we have him we shall 
prove Miss Hogg guilty of abducting the child.^^ 

^‘Well, what do you propose to do, Mr. Mathew 

“1 shall leave you to watch Miss Hogg’s movements, 
and I wdll go back to England. I am curious to know 
how Walgrave managed to find Lady Florence, and why 
he has kept it so secret, for I have received neither 
telegram nor letter. I suppose he wants to have the matter 
well settled before he lets us know ; and we would not have 
known that he had found her but that the chief of police 
here telegraphed to the convent. I am really surprised at 
Walgrave’s conduct toward me, for we agreed to work 
together. However, I leave here to-morrow, and you can 
report to me if there ^s anything new about Miss Hogg’s 
movements.” 

The next day Mathew left Paris for England. His 
first move was to esAl at police headquarters. The chief 
received him with some surprise, saying, “1 thought you 
were still at Paris; have you suceeeded?” 

‘‘No, sir, but Walgrave has; it will be a fine thing for 
him; the honor and the reward will be his. I have done 
my best, but nothing but failure has attended my best 
efforts.” 

The captain looked at Mathew, stupefied with astonish- 
ment ; he did n’t seem to understand Mathew’s words. 
He answered, ^^Walgrave must have discovered Lady 
Florence quite recently, for he was here less than an hour 
ago, and was wondering if you had suceeeded, for he had 
not heard from you for three days.” 

Mathew turned so pale that the captain thought him 
on the point of fainting; he hurriedly gave him a chair 
and called for a glass of water, which revived him, and 


304 


MISS HOGG 


he murmured, ^^0, is it possible? Tricked again! But 
how and by whom?^^ And as soon as he had recovered 
himself he related all that the reader knows. 

The captain admitted that Mathew could not have 
done differently; still, the shame rested upon them all, 
that the English detectives, the very best in the whole 
world, should have failed, and it was very humiliating. 
Walgrave was sent for, and when he learned that he had 
been impersonated his rage knew no bounds and it was 
feared that he would have an apoplectic fit. He asked 
leave of the captain to go and hunt up the miscreant who 
had dared to impersonate him. He left for Antwerp the 
same night, saw the chief of police the next day, and 
when he presented himself as Walgrave the detective, 
am charmed,^^ said the old gentleman, ^To make your 
acquaintance. Monsieur Walgrave; your son was here 
some days ago ; very clever young man ; you must be proud 
of him; he will be a great man one day.^^ 

Walgrave was suffocating with rage. His son, that 
villain! And how old did the chief of police take him 
to be, who was only forty years old ? He could not be the 
father of a grown-up son, be he ever so young. He was 
very sensitive about his age, for he was believed to be a 
bachelor, and he prided himself on not looking more than 
thirty-five at the most; and here was an old graybeard 
calling him the father of a grown-up young man in all 
good faith, there was no doubt of that. He felt down- 
hearted, and twisted his black mustache, which was be- 
ginning to be streaked with gray, only slightly, it is true ; 
still, to be taken for the father of a grown-up son! He 
felt indignant, to say the least ; and looking sternly at the 
chief, who was at a loss to know what he could have said 
to offend the English detective, he said, ^^N^o, sir, he was 
not my son ; he was a villain who deceived you ; he was not 
a detective at all,^^ 

^•^What!^^ said the old gentleman, all excitement now, 
and indignant at having been taken in by a fraud, and so 
young a one too ; ^^still his papers and badge were correct, 
I can swear to that. I did remark to him that he was very 
young to be intrusted with such an important case, but he 
only laughed and said that no one had a right to find fault 
with his youth since he had succeeded in discovering where 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


305 


Lady Florence was, and I agreed with him. And really, 
Mr. Walgrave, he resembled you greatly — tall and dark, 
with bright intelligent black eyes.^^ 

^^Well, sir, I must look like a villain, for he is one/^ 
^^But, monsieur,^^ said the chief, mildly, trying to soothe 
Walgrave, ^Vhere and how did he get a badge like yours? 
Those badges are not given to every one, like medicinal 
advertisements, in our country, sir, nor in yours, that I 
know of. Some one in your police must be betraying you 
and is in league with the guilty party.^^ 

no/’ replied Walgrave, excitedly; begin to 
see daylight. I lost a badge sometime ago; how, I have 
never discovered. She must have taken it from me; she 
must be a witch, for I ^11 swear she never touched me.^^ 
^^Oho, Mr. Walgrave, so you^re a gay spark, eh? and 
have ladies taking your badge away without your knowl- 
edge. But then who was the young man who represented 
you here ?” 

^Tt was herself, probably.^^ 

^^No, no, monsieur,^^ said the chief, almost angrily; ^^do 
you take me for a fool to mistake a man for a woman — I 
mean a woman for a man? Why, he was as tall as j^our- 
self, and nearly as stout, and had the finest black mustache 
that you could wish to see — it just matches his eyes. N’o, 
monsieur, it was a man, I am positive.^^ 

^‘^Well, sir, allow me to think otherwise; and I should 
like to telegraph to Mr. Eobert and find out if Miss Hogg 
is still in the hotel.^^ 

That was done, and the reply was, ^^Ho, she left last 
night for Havre de Grace, and intends to leave Havre 
in a few days for America. Her maid is with her; they 
are going in the company of some American friends. 
I telegraphed last night to Mathew, who wired back that 
the child had been taken away, not hj Detective Walgrave, 
but by some one representing him, and who must have been 
in Miss Hogg^s pay. I have seen nothing suspicious in Miss 
Hogg^s conduct since Monsieur Mathew left here; he has 
not told me to follow her; I have wired back to know if 
I am to do so.^^ 

^^Well, what do you think of that, Mr. Walgrave? 
Perhaps this Miss Hogg has really had nothing to do with 
the matter. Sometimes we make np our minds that a. 


306 ' 


MISS HOGG 


certain person is and nothing can shake our belief 

until somebody else who thought differently gets hold of the 
guilty party, and then what becomes of our theoiy? And 
really, Mr. Walgrave, I see no reason, no sense, in accusing 
Miss Hogg of taking the young lady away. What can she 
do with her ? What will she gain by it ? She is rich, so 
it is not for money ; and if she is guilty she exposes herself 
to a terrible punishment — here it would be imprisonment — 
and you may be sure that she would never risk that punish- 
ment for the love of mischief or for petty revenge ; so, my 
friend, you will find in time that it was not she, but more 
likely some distant relation of her own family, in order 
to get the inheritance, for she is immensely rich, you tell 
me.^^ 

‘^^There is much in what you say, monsieur; still, my 
instinct points to Miss Hogg, and I shall follow her to 
x\merica.’^ 

^Wery well,^^ replied the chief, will telegraph to 
Monsieur Robert to that effect; or do you wish him to go 
with you?’^ 

; I shall employ American detectives when I get 
there. I must try to sail on the same steamer she does. 
I propose to watch her during the voyage, and I hope to 
have made some discovery before we land there. She 
would never dare have the child with her ; still, I must and 
will be on the lookout for a fair little girl — or boy — for 
that matter, and in every part of the ship. I have Lady 
Florence’s portrait here, and I will be able to identify her 
on the spot.” 

^^Let me see that portrait,” said the chief of police. 
And, looking at it attentively, he said, ^‘^There is no doubt 
whatever that this is the portrait of the child we took from 
the convent, except that her hair was not so long and 
must have been recently cut ; but the features, the eyes, the 
pretty, smiling mouth, are the same. The child certainly 
did not look unhappy to me; certainly not as if she was 
being taken against her wishes; she came quite willingly 
with the sister.” 

H believe you, monsieur,” replied Walgrave, ^^and I 
feel mystified myself ; there is a mystery somewhere; they 
must have imposed upon the child in some way, for she 
is high-spirited and fearless, and, had she been so dis-* 


AMERICAN heiress 30? 

posed, she would have claimed the protection of the lady 
superioress. What puzzles me is that she would have 
been so willing to leave the convent with strangers.^^ 

^^Yes, Monsieur Walgrave, but if it is as you suppose, 
were they strangers? That^s the question/^ 

Walgrave started in his chair, and slapping his knees 
with his hands, exclaimed, ^^No, sir, they were not 
strangers. I see it all; they were the same parties who 
had taken her originally; that^s one mystery solved; you 
may depend upon it that it was Miss Hogg and her maid.” 

^^Is her maid a stout old woman about fifty-five?” 
asked the chief, with an incredulous smile. 

^^ISTo, sir; she is a bright, mischievous girl of about 
twenty; she took me in once.” 

^‘^Ah, ah, monsieur, you seem very unfortunate with 
the fair sex,” said the chief, laughing merrily. ^^Why don't 
you get married my friend ? — then all the pretty girls will 
leave you in peace; look at me; not one of them gives me 
even a side glance.” 

thought Walgrave, ^^and I don^t wonder at it; 
you must be eighty, if a day” — ^though he was not really 
seventy, but Walgrave owed him a grudge about his own 
age. ^^Does he compare himself with me? Why, I know 
twenty young girls who would be only too pleased to be 
asked by me;” and he stroked his mustache complacently, 
while the chief laughed at his own joke. 

^^Yes, monsieur, take my advice; you are not a bit too 
old to marry. But, joking aside, you must dine with me 
to-day. The steamer does nT leave before to-night.” 

Walgrave accepted the invitation and had a merry time 
with the old gentleman, who was really a good fellow, a 
little more fond of a joke than Englishmen usually are. 
They parted at the steamer well pleased with each other, 
and they shook hands heartily; but, as the chief said to 
himself as he went away, young Walgrave was more 
generous than old Walgrave, for the latter had not left 
a ten pound note in his hand at parting, as the other had 
done; nor had he expected it; that was only another of 
his jokes. 


308 


MISS SOGd 


CHAPTEE XLV. 

Walgrave reached Havre de Grace^ a beautiful seaport, 
one of the best in France. Ships leave there for all parts 
of the world. The steamer La Gascogne would leave for 
Xew York in two days. Walgrave bought a first class 
ticket under the name of Brownlow; then he went to a 
barbeFs and had himself clean shaven, not without a feel- 
ing of regret, but he had to assume a disguise, and a false 
beard would never do, for he would have to mingle with 
all the passengers or how could he find out what he wanted 
to know? He must gain the confid'ence of all, and what 
garb could be more suitable for that purpose than that of 
a minister? He had a tall, commanding figure, quiet 
manners, and a gentlemanly appearance; and his calling 
would permit him to go all over the ship and speak to 
every one. Would Miss Hogg know him? Xot likely; he 
would be in no hurry to make her acquaintance, but would 
allow things to take their course ; he knew whom he had to 
deal with, and he would keep his wits about him. He went 
to the best tailor in town and ordered a complete outfit, and 
the morning of his departure he assumed his disguise and 
felt gratified at his appearance; it almost repaid him for 
the loss of his mustache; he certainly looked well in his 
black suit, white choker, and silk hat; and, with his large 
silk umbrella under his arm and his portmanteau in his 
hand, he certainly did not look like a detective. 

He boarded the ship, stood on deck, watched the 
passengers come aboard, had a smile for every one, and 
often raised his hat to ladies who, he could see, were 
Americans; and they did not fail to see that a handsome 
English minister was on board, and several of the ladies 
promised themselves to fiirt with him. He looked hand- 
some and well to do, and it was so seldom they saw a 
good-looking man in America that we may forgive them 
for looking up sweetly at him and returning his smile. 
Then, too, we all know that in every country we can make 


TKVl A^iItilRICAN HEIRESS 309 

more free with a clergyman than with any other gentleman 
without setting evil tongues wagging. 

Walgrave had seen a great many of the passengers come 
aboard, but Miss Hogg and her party had not yet made 
their appearance, and he was fearful that they were not 
coming. Had she changed her mind about going by that 
steamer ? 

The whistle was blowing loud enough to deafen an 
artilleryman, yet no Miss Hogg. Would she disappoint him 
again? She might come yet, for there was still a half 
hour before the time of departure, and carriage loads were 
still coming. A grand equipage dashed alongside the 
steamer; it was from the Hotel du Havre; ladies were 
alighting from it, and 0, joy! Miss Hogg’s tall form 
became visible to Walgrave. How would she recognize him ? 
He would soon know. Naturally enough, he being a 
minister, they looked at him as they passed; he politely 
raised his hat; they bowed and passed on to their state- 
room, one of the ladies saying to Miss Hogg, ^AVe shall 
have to behave ourselves for we have a minister on board.” 

^*^0, bosh !” she replied, ^^ministers are not made of wood 
that I know of ; we must try to have fun with him by and 
by; it will help to pass the time. I wonder if his wife 
is on board, for, of course, he has one; those ministers 
always marry so young, and, though they are always 
preaching about giving up the pleasures of the world, they 
manage to get a good share of them at the lowest rates;” 
and she laughed aloud. 

Mamie,” said one of the young ladies, ^^you are 
too hard on them. This one has lovely teeth; I noticed 
them when he smiled.” 

^Not his own, you may l)et, for he is not so very 
young,” Miss Hogg replied. 

By this time they had reached their staterooms. Wal- 
grave had, of course, only heard the beginning of this 
very edifying discourse, but that was quite enough to 
prove that they were interested in him, and that he had 
not been recognized by Miss Hogg; now it remained to 
be seen if Katy would be more shrewd than her mistress, 
for he had quite as much cause to fear her. He heard 
some one behind him laughing heartily; he did not turn, 
for he was a born detective and always on the alert^ but 


MISS HOGa 


310 

-that laugh made his heart beat, for he surely had heard 
it before, and he remembered that that was at the Eed 
Lion Hotel, and had come from the throat of the young 
woman who had played him such a triclv with her soda 
water. He managed to shift his position without attract- 
ing the notice of the young person, who seemed to be hav- 
ing a good time with some of the other servants. Wal- 
grave had a good look at her, but did not recognize her as 
the young wife at the Eed Lion, but as the maid at the 
Temperance Hotel, London; so, after all, she was not 
a hotel servant, but Miss Hogg's maid. Well, really, 
they seemed to have pla 3 ^ed football with the detectives. 
^'But wait, my lad}^^ your time will come yet, and perhaps 
sooner than you expect."^^ And, seeing her tugging at 
a big portmanteau, he said, as she passed, Allow me, my 
child ; that ^s too heavy for you ; why not let the men 
carry it for you?^^ Taking it from her, he carried it as 
far as the stairs; then, calling the steward, he smiled 
at Katy and returned to his place. 

Katy was so surprised that a gentleman should carry 
the heavy portmanteau for her that she could only say, 
^^0, thank you, sir; it^s too kind of you.^^ 

Walgrave was satisfied; she had not recognized him; 
all was well so far, but he must watch his temper, for 
his voice might betray him; as long as he spoke in soft, 
low tones he was safe. He had made Katyas acquaintance 
by doing her a slight service; he must keep it up and 
see what he could get out of her. He said to himself, 
wish I were a priest, for then I could hear her confession 
and I hn sure it would be very interesting f and he smiled 
at the thought. 

He heard some one say, ^‘^This minister seems to have 
a real good temper; he is smiling to himself.^^ 

suppose everything will have to be allowed to get 
cold while we say grace at mealtime, or you ^11 see that 
it wonT be smiles that he ^11 give us,'^ said another, 
crossly, but he was mistaken, for when at the table that 
evening the captain had said, ^^Eeverend sir, if you wish to 
ask a blessing I don’t suppose that anyone will object, as, 
though we may not all be of the same denomination as 
yourself, thanking God must sound the same to every 
one,” the Eev. Mr. Brownlow had replied: 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


311 


^^With your kind leave. Captain Dupre, I think that, as 
there are so many present of different creeds, it Avill be 
wiser to let each one thank God in his own way. Let 
us all be friendly during this voyage, which may God 
make a short and pleasant one to all.^^ 

^^Amen,^^ said the captain ; ^ffhat ^s what I call a 
Christian spirit; your presence, sir, will certainly add 
greatly to our pleasure.^^ And a chorus of voices expressed 
satisfaction and approval. 

The clergyman bowed his thanks, and the supper, 
which was very good, was enjoyed by all, as no one had as 
yet become seasick. 

The Eev. Mr. Brownlow felt much relieved at having 
so successfully escaped saying grace ; for had he been forced 
to perform the task he would have been much embarrassed, 
never having done it in his life, more shame to him; and 
in excusing himself from saying grace he had killed two 
birds with one stone, for of course they would not ask him 
to hold service on Sunday, as is often done on board ship. 
Still, he must pretend to read his Bible, and he had n’t any, 
so he hunted in his portmanteau for a book that would 
look like one, but could only find the ^Alemoirs of an 
Old Detective,” which he covered with a piece of black 
cloth from an old hat which he found in his stateroom, 
which must have been left there by the previous occupant. 
So the Eev. Mr. Brownlow tore it to fit the book aud 
pinned it on securely, and the next day he had it under his 
arm and occasionally opened it and read devoutly from 
different parts of it, but he was always ready to shut it up 
at the approach of anyone who seemed desirous of talking 
with him. He certainly was not a selfish mau, for he 
gave up his own pleasures for others, and was much 
liked by every one. Miss Hogg included, who often sat by 
him and seemed much interested in his conversation, 
and he seemed equally pleased with her company. In a 
few days they were seen walking the poop, Miss Hogg 
leaning on his arm, only, of course, to enable her to keep 
her equilibrium, for the sea was rough ; yet more than one 
passenger smiled as they saw them so engrossed in one 
another. 

The Eev. Sidney Brownlow must have been a free 
thinker, for Miss Hogg was an ardent Catholic, and when 


312 


MISS HOGG 


Katy had reproved her for being so far gone on the 
minister and wondered what Father Cowen would say 
to her about falling in love with an unbeliever^ she had 
said, ^^Well, I should smile, but you^re a fool; hb^s not 
an unbeliever, and I ^11 tell Father Cowen how I was trying 
to convert him to our faith, and that in doing so I fell in 
love with him/^ 

^‘0, my heart ! but you don’t mean it, Mamie ?” 

^‘1 do, or at least I think so. I like to look at him; he 
has such beautiful black eyes, and somehow it seems to 
me that I ’ve seen them before, and yet it cannot be, unless 
it was in a former life, as some people assert that we have 
had.” 

^^0, but you must be far gone to talk such trash ; he has 
bewitched you, I think. Here he comes, and of course 
you must go at his beck and call. And what about Lord 
Montgomery — is he forgotten already? N’ext thing you’ll 
be telling him all about — 0, my heart ! but I came near 
letting the eat out of the bag.” 

^^Ah, Katy, my child, you look excited. What has hap- 
pened? is Miss Hogg scolding you? can I plead your 
cause with her?” 

^^Ko, sir, thank you; Miss Hogg was not scolding me.” 
He was certainly very nice; no wonder Mamie liked him. 

Miss Hogg had walked slowly away, expecting the 
reverend gentleman to follow her, but, for once, he did 
not; he seemed to S 3 ^mpathize with Katy, who certainly 
looked troubled, for she feared that he might have heard 
her remark to her mistress, but if he had he made no 
reference to it; he sat down on a bench and invited her 
to do the same, as he wished to speak to her, and as soon 
as she did so he began: 

^^You have a very kind mistress, if I mistake not; have 
you known her long, or did she engage your services in 
England ?” 

^^Yes, she did,” replied Katy without a blush. 
don’t know much about her; still she has been kind, — so 
far, at least.” 

Katy had told this untruth, fearing that if she said 
she had known Miss Hogg as long as she could remember, 
he would ply her with questions which might be very 
embarrassing, not knowing what Mamie might already havQ 


ttHE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


313 


told him. Walgrave had not expected such an answer and he 
looked surprised and disappointed^ for he had hoped to 
make her betray her mistress by questioning her cleverly 
and leading her on little by little, even by asserting that 
Miss Hogg had confided in him, so that she could speak 
of the affair freely ; but what could he do now ? He could 
not tell her that she had not spoken the truth ; that would 
have betrayed his knowledge of them previous to their 
meeting on board the ship, and that was not his plan; so 
he said, ‘‘1 am sorry, my child ; I wanted to ask you a few 
questions regarding your mistress, for you must see that 
1 am growing very fond of her.^^ 

^^Yes, sir, I have noticed it, and every one else has 
too.^^ And she looked him straight in the face and saw 
more anger than love in his eyes ; that he had been greatly 
disappointed in her answer was clear to her, whatever his 
motives were. His eyes puzzled her; she had the feeling 
of having seen them before, but where, and when, she 
could not remember, for they had not been among minis- 
ters. The thought of a disguise never came to her; every- 
thing about the Eev. Sidney Brownlow looked real; still, 
she had an uneasy feeling, and it vexed her not to be able 
to remember where she had seen those eyes before. 

^^Have they, my child, really noticed my attentions to 
your mistress?*^ the minister said; ^‘^and yet we hardly 
know our own minds; not a word of love has passed be- 
tween us ; it is a very serious matter, my child ; yes, very 
serious indeed.^^ And he arose and walked away, leaving 
his precious Bible on the seat, half hidden in Katyas 
skirt. Katy, lost in her own thoughts, looked after him. 
Where had she seen him? Why, his walk seemed to be 
getting familiar to her ; yet she did not recognize him ; but 
it would come, link by link ; the eyes had haunted her, and 
now . the walk ; it would come upon her like a clap of 
thunder, but would it come in time, or when the mischief 
was done? We shall see. 


314 


MISS HOGG 


CHAPTEE XLVI. 

Katy kept on looking after the reverend gentleman, 
who had gone over to Miss Hogg, she having made room 
for him by her side on the bench, and they soon became 
engrossed in each other. He seemed to be pressing his suit 
pretty strongly, at least so thought Katy; and though 
Miss Hogg laughed merrily, as if she thought it a good 
joke, still, she allowed her hand to remain in that of 
the Eev. Mr. Brownlow. Katy, somehow, did not like 
it ; she felt a sense of uneasiness that she could not 
account for ; she placed her left hand on the bench to steady 
herself as she rose from her seat, and it came in contact 
with the minister’s Bible. She remained seated, and picked 
up the Bible with the intention of returning it at once to 
Mr. Brownlow, but on second thought she would wait un- 
til he left Miss Hogg’s side, and not interrupt their con- 
versation. Then curiosity took possession of her ; she 
would have a look at it to see what a Protestant Bible was 
like, and placing it on her lap she opened it, not without 
conscientious scruples, however, for Father Flynn did not 
approve of anyone but himself reading the Bible, and of 
course a Protestant Bible must be the devil’s book, since 
every Protestant, without exception, went to perdition, and 
none but Catholics were saved. Poor Katy was half afraid 
to open it; still, the temptation was so great that she 
could not resist it ; the poor girl did not know that a Catli- 
olic and a Protestant Bible are almost exactly alike, word 
for word. She opened the sacred book and turned as 
white as a sheet. Did she read her condemnation on tlie 
first page? It certainly looked very much like it, for she 
leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes as if about to 
faint ; her legs were so weak tliat she could not have stood 
up; then the color returned to her face; she sat up 
and put the Bible hurriedly into her pocket, looked toward 
her mistress, who seemed to be enjoying her conversation 
with the Rev. Mr. Brownlow, who had his back towards lier ; 
she gave a sigh of relief, and, getting up, walked to the side 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


315 


of the ship^ looked over the bulwarks, and dropped into the 
sea something which looked like a book, and was soon out 
of sight. She heard a hurried step behind her ; she quaked 
with fear, for she knew that it was the minister; she held 
fast to the side of the ship, or she would have fallen, and 
waited to hear what he had come to say. She had n^t long 
to wait. 

^^Katy, have you seen my Bible ? Where is it and his 
voice was far from being soft and calm. Then, noticing 
Katy's j)ale face and trembling limbs, he asked more gently, 
and looking almost as pale as herself, ^^What ^s the matter 
with you, child, are you ill 

^^Xo — yes, I mean; I have done something that will 
make you very angry with me ; I found your Bible on the 
seat and I have dropped it into the sea.^^ 

^^But why did you do that?^^ asked Walgrave, much re- 
lieved. 

^^Because it^s a Protestant Bible, and every one who 
reads it is sure to go to the devil ; and if you ^re going to 
marry my mistress you ^11 become a Catholic and won't need 
it any more.^^ 

^^0, you ^re a foolish child, said the reverend gentleman, 
laughing, suppose I must forgive you for your sweet 
mistresses sake.^e 

He returned to the seat where he had left Miss Hogg, 
but she was no longer there; he was told by the captain 
that she had gone to her room looking very ill. Brownlow 
was surprised, for he had only just left her looking the pic- 
ture of health. 

The fact was that Walgrave, while in the middle of one 
of his soft speeches to her, had suddenly remembered that 
ho had left his Bible on the bench, and with a look of fear 
in his eyes he had arisen, saying, ^‘Excuse me a moment.^^ 
He had, in his excitement, spoken in his own voice, and 
had walked towards Katy in his own detective footsteps; 
he was no longer the soft-spoken minister, so calm and slow 
in his walk, but a man full of energy and determination, 
who has made a mistake and is in a hurry to rectify it. 
Miss Hogg looked after him with astonishment ; a rosy spot 
appeared on her cheeks, then disappeared as suddenly, leav- 
ing her very pale as she murmured, ^^0, my heart, Wal- 
grave ! I must go down and compose myself ; I could nev- 


316 


MISS I-IOGG 


€r speak calmly; he would guess that I had recognized 
him/^ And she had met the captain, who had remarked 
that she looked ill. ^^Yes, I feel ill/^ she had replied. 
think we are going to have a storm ; that must be the cause 
of it.^^ And she went down. 

That evening she did not appear at the table and Mr. 
Browniow looked uneasy and unhappy. Many of the 
ladies joked him about his looks and tried to flirt with 
him, but, though he was polite, he seemed so preoccupied 
that they soon left him to himself. He certainly felt very 
uneasy, fearing to have been recognized by Miss Hogg, but 
how could that be possible? He had said and done noth- 
ing suspicious, and Katy had not been near her mistress 
since she had found the book, and she had perhaps not 
even discovered that it was not a Bible, for the little fool 
had not dared to open it, but had simply dropped it over- 
board ; so that her mistress’s illness could not have been the 
result of anything that Katy could have told her. Ko, he 
was overanxious ; things were all right. He regretted the loss 
of his detective book, for it was an old one and could not 
easily be replaced, if at all ; still, it was better to have it at 
the bottom of the sea than in Katy’s hands. 

If Walgrave had known what was going on in Miss 
Hogg’s room he would not have been able to sleep so sound- 
ly and peacefully as he did that night. 

When Miss Hogg reached her room she asked the 
stewardess to call her maid, as she felt ill ; and when Katy 
came to her pale and trembling she guessed that she knew 
that Walgrave was on board. When Katy saw her mis- 
tress she knew that she had had a great shock; she must have 
made the discovery — but how? — that Walgrave was there 
disguised as a minister. 

‘^^Mamie,” she whispered, ^^you know who the Eev. Mr. 
Browniow is?” 

^^Yes,” answered Miss Hogg, ^^and so do you. But how 
did you discover it?” 

‘^^Look at his Bible,” was the answer. 

Miss Hogg did so, and burst out laughing when she 
saw that it was a detective book. 

^^0, the old cheat ! But I should smile ! I don’t see, 
though, why we should be so frightened, for, when we come 
to think of it^ he can’t do us any harm. It certainly gave 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


317 


me a start when I recognized him by his voice and walk, 
as he turned towards you to get back his precious Bible ; in 
his fear that you should read it, he forgot himself and spoke 
in his own natural voice, and walked as he did when I had 
him turned out of the Temperance Hotel, and I was so far 
from suspecting the Eev. Mr. Brownlow of being Walgrave 
that the discovery turned me sick for a moment, and fear- 
ing that he would read in my eyes that I had found him 
out I came down here and sent for you.^^ 

^^And are you still in love with him?^^ asked Katy 
mischievously, fast recovering her spirits. 

^Tn love with him ? Get out with you ! I never said 
that I was ; I only said I liked to look at him, and that I 
thought I had seen his fine black eyes before, but couldnT 
remember where. 0, you bet I ^11 pay him off before I ^m 
done with him ! Look here, Katy, he must nT guess that 
we know him, and I shall make desperate love to him to 
mislead him. So it was not his Bible that you threw over- 
board — what was it, your ^Kelly^s Memoirs^ ? 0, my heart ! 
but you did n’t do that, did you ? Why, I had n’t read it.” 

^AVell, what could I do? He was coming towards me, 
and I had to make him believe that I had thrown it over- 
board, for I wanted to keep his book to show you ; and then, 
you know, we may learn something useful from it. Since 
we are playing against the detectives we may as well have 
the benefit of their experience.” 

^^Sure,” replied Miss Hogg ; ^ Ve can read it here in my 
room of an evening. Let us begin now,” and they did so, 
and had many a good laugh at the clever escapes of the 
rogues, and again at the detectives’ maneuvers in check- 
mating them, and courageous, almost deadly, fights be- 
tween them. It made Miss Hogg’s blood boil with enthu- 
siasm, for she was brave, and she admired a brave man, 
whether rogue or detective. Her black eyes would flash 
and her cheeks flush at every daring deed recorded, and she 
exclaimed, excitedly, ^Tf I had been a man I would have 
been a detective ; I could have done much better than many 
of these fellows.” 

^^Well, why don’t you marry a detective? You have a 
chance to do it,” said Katy, merrily. 

look here, I would n’t have Walgrave, for he ’s tog 


318 


MISS HOGG 


old^ and not half as clever and handsome as Mathew. I 
wonder why they did n^t send him after me 

^‘VVell, maybe he thought he had had enough of you 
after you played him that trick of impersonating Wal- 
grave ; and that poor Eobert ! 0^ my hearty what fools we 

made of them both laughed Katy. 

^^Yes, with the aid of Jerry; and without him we would 
never have got through as we did. But why is Walgrave 
after me ? does he expect to find the child with me 

said Katy; ‘^^but he hopes that by making love to 
you, and by patronizing me, and calling me his dear child, 
he fil get us to give ourselves away by some thoughtless 
word that will give him a clew. He wanted very much to 
know how long I had known you, so as to pump me, but I 
soon stopped that by telling him that you had hired me 
quite recently* and that I knew nothing about you. You 
should have seen his eyes flash with anger and disappoint- 
ment, and his manner said as well as words could have 
done, ^What a brazen baggage you are, to dare tell me such 
a fib but he only said, H wanted to ask you a few ques- 
tions about your mistress, of whom I am growing very 
fond.^ 

‘^^The old skin ! I must lead him on to propose, and 
then throw him over and expose him as I did at the hotel. 
0, my, but did n’t he look flat ! I wish you had seen him.” 

The next day Miss Hogg was up early, and looking the 
picture of health. She ran up on deck, laughing merrily at 
some remark of some one concerning her and the Eev. Mr. 
Brownlow, whom she met on deck, and to whom, holding 
out her hand in rather a free and gushing manner, she 
said, ^HIow very kind of you, sir, to have felt anxious on my 
account; I was told that you hardly ate any supper last 
night, is that so ?” 

The Eev. Mr. Brownlow was slightly taken aback; he 
had not expected such an attack; he wanted a loophole of 
escape, but she left him none; and he had to speak sweet 
words to her ; and, placing her hand on his arm, he paced the 
deck with her. She seemed very sprightly, talked, 
laughed, and made sheep’s-e 3 ^es at him; in fact, treated 
him as if he already belonged to her ; he felt that it would 
be hard work to draw back unless he ran away, and, as Miss 
Hogg said^ ministers are not made of wood, nor detectives 


THi) ahehican heiress 


319 


neither^ it seems ; for his eyes softened more than once as 
he felt her head against his arm, and her big, strong hand 
pressing his own; and the thought came to him, really 
feel kindly towards her ; if she cares for me I really think 
that I could learn to love her; she ^s a brave, clever woman, 
and if she loves me I can’t hunt her down; I begin to feel 
mean already, and to betray a woman who is in love with 
one is unpardonable. Who would ever have thought that 
I who hated her and who was anxious to have her severely 
punished, not only for taking the child, but for having in- 
sulted and humiliated me at the Temperance Hotel, should 
now feel my heart beat as she presses my arm and leans her 
lovely head on my shoulder. How could I have been so 
blind? I have said she was masculine and homely. How 
can she be homely with those large, black eyes, and that 
beautiful and luxuriant black hair?” And he became so 
lost in admiration of Miss Hogg, and remained silent so 
long, that ]\Iiss Hogg looked up at him in a shy and loving 
way, and said, ^^Mr. Brownlow, have I offended you that 
3 ^ou have not spoken to me for the last ten minutes ?” 

no, my dear; on the contrary, I was thinking of 
you all the time;” and his arm found its way around her 
waist so lovingly that Miss Hogg looked up at him once 
more to see if he really meant it or if he was trying to 
make a fool of her. But she saw Avith great surprise real 
love in his e3^es; there was no mistaking it; and her heart 
leaped with joy — not love; she had caught W^algrave now; 
he Avas in her power; she looked doAvn shyl\% and she 
allowed her perfumed head to rest on his shoulder for a 
moment; then, blushing, she moved aAvay from him, 
Avhich brought the reverend gentleman to his senses. 

For the moment he had forgotten that many eyes v^ere 
upon them, and he felt a little embarrassed Avhen he met the 
eyes of the captain, Avho had a smile on his face, and said, 
^^4h, reverend sir, I see that your religion does iTt prohibit 
love-making ; there ’s nothing like a sea voyage to bring out 
loA^e and tender feeling.” 

believe you, captain,” replied the Eev. Mr. Brownlow 
smiling : certainly never expected this attack, and I can 

assure you that it is real, and at my time of life too ! If I 
can only win her for my wife I shall be the happiest man 
on earth.” 


o20 MISS HOGO 

Tto captain laughed and wished him success. 

Of course Miss Hogg had not remained there to hear 
herself discussed, but at the approach of the captain had 
gone and joined ‘Some ladies, who also joked her about Mr. 
Brownlow. ^‘^Oh, my heart V’ she said, ‘^^and what harm is 
it if he did put his arm around my waist ? He ^s a min- 
ister, and I ^m sure he ’s not sly/^ 

^^Did he propose, Mamie, and what did he say 

well, I should smile! You don^t want much, you 
bet. You get some one to propose to you, then you ^11 know 
all about it.^’ 

^^0, come, Mamie, do tell us. Did you accept him?^^ 

^^Would you, if he had asked you?^^ she replied, laugh- 
ing. 

^^Yes, I think I could love such a handsome man, that 
is if he loved me.'’^ 

^^0, never mind the love. There ^s the breakfast bell 
ringing, so let ^s go down ; I ^m starving.^^ 

After this little episode every one on board looked upon 
the Eev. Mr. Brownlow and Miss Hogg as an engaged 
couple and left them much to themlseves. 

On the eighth day out land was sighted and it was ex- 
pected the steamer would reach Yew York about noon. 
Miss Hogg gave her address to Mr. Brownlow. He 
thanked her fervently and promised to call soon on her 
parents; he then kissed her hand; yes, Walgrave actually 
kissed Miss Hogg's hand. Such is love. There is no 
barrier that it cannot pass, no river that it cannot bridge. 
Unfortunately in this ease it was a one-sided love, and had 
Miss Hogg returned Mr. Walgrave^s love my story would 
soon come to an end. 

Miss Hogg’s carriage awaited her on the arrival of the 
ship. The coachman touched his hat and seemed glad to 
see his mistress back again, and when Katy made her 
appearance his face flushed with pleasure; she looked at 
him in surprise, then blushed, and, casting down her eyes, 
said, ^^Well, I never ! I never thought of him, but I always 
liked him ; then he ’s an Englishman ; really, I ’m as bad as 
Mamie.” 

^^Come, let ’s hurry,” said Miss Hogg, ^^and get away 
from the crowd. Ah, John, how do you do? Glad to see 
me back, eh ?” 


(THE AMERICAiC HEIRESS 


321 


ma^am/^ replied the tall coachman^ touching his 
hat once more; but as the Eev. Mr. Brownlow moved 
towards Miss Hogg to wish her a last good-by, he looked 
very pale and turned his head away. 

Katy gave him some small parcels to put in the carriage, 
and whispered to him, ‘^Don’t fret, she knows him ; it will 
be all right.^^ 

Then he heard his mistress say, ^^Well, Mr. Brown- 
low, since you are coming our way, get in the carriage and 
we will drop you at your hotel ; we have to pass it on our 
way to Fifth Avenue.""^ 

^Tf I thought that I was not intruding/^ said Mr. 
Brownlow, should be very happy to do so.^^ 

“Then come,^^ said Miss Hogg, “and be happy while 
you can;’^ and to John^s great astonishment he saw Miss 
Hogg and Walgrave enter the carriage and sit side by side, 
while he, Jerry, for it was he, held the door open for them. 
He was so lost in thought or admiration of his mistresses 
choice that Katy had to get in without his help; he didn’t 
notice her until she was seated on the front seat opposite 
her mistress and Mr. Brownlow. 

“Well, John,” said his mistress, “if you have looked at 
me long enough to make sure that T am really your mistress 
I hope you wdll drive us home and stop on the way there at 
the Broadway Hotel.” 

“Beg pardon, ma’am; I’m so nleased to see you back 
again that I forgot myself.” 

“And you forget me, too,” said Katy, laughing. 

Jerry smiled, mounted his box and drove off at a good 
speed, owning to himself that he was puzzled to understand 
Miss Hogg’s reasons for bringing Walgrave to America and 
being on such good terms with him too. Did she mean to 
marry him, to make her peace with Lady Montgomery? 
There was no telling; these Americans stopped at nothing. 
He must be on his guard or he would be recognized ; he 
must try to see Katy and find out what he was expected to 
do. Miss Hogg was clever and she must have some very 
good reason for what she was doing; he would trust her; 
but, as for her marrying Wi"algrave, he could hardly believe 
it, unless everything w^as discovered and it was her only way 
to save herself ; but that could not be, for Walgrave did not 
appear masterful towards her, but very loving and atten- 


323 


MISS HOGG 


tive; it was his loving looks that had at first brought the 
thoughts into J erry^s head, and his thoughts must have kept 
him busy ever since, for he was forgetting to stop at the 
Broadway Hotel. 

Katy pulled the string; he stopped, and seeing a hotel 
at his right he guessed that that was where he had been told 
to stop ; but as he had only been in 'New York five days he 
barely knew his way from Mrs. Hogg^s mansion in Fifth 
Avenue to the pier where he was to fetch Miss Hogg. He 
had been practicing ever since his arrival, and when told 
by Miss Hogg to stop at the Broadway Hotel in Broadway, he 
had not dared ask her where it was for fear that Walgrave 
would suspect him; and as it was on their way to Fifth 
Avenue, they wore sure to stop him, and if they didn’t, he 
would say that he had quite forgotten, and would manage 
to send back the reverend gentleman to his hotel in charge 
of some other coachman who was more likely to find it 
than he would be ; however, Katy had been on the watch 
and had pulled the string in time. The Eev. Mr. Brown- 
low alighted with his portmanteau and umbrella, wishing 
Miss Hogg good-by again, and promising to call on her 
next day if it Avould not be too soon. 

^^Too soon!” exclaimed Miss Hogg; ^^certainly not; 
come to-night, if you feel so disposed.” 

^^No, no. Miss Hogg, you are tired and need rest to-day; 
but to-morrow, since you permit me, I will do myself the 
honor of calling on you.” 

^^Well, good-by,” said Miss Hogg, ^^and mind that you 
come before dinner; we dine at six o’clock.” Mr. Brown- 
low bowed his assent, smiled and disappeared into the 
hotel, while John, much relieved, mounted his box and was 
soon at Ko. — Fifth Avenue, not very far from where St. 
Patrick’s Cathedral now stands. 

Mr. Hogg ran down the steps, opened the carriage door, 
and soon had his daughter in his arms. ^^0, my girl,” said 
the old man, ^Vou have stayed away a long time from your 
old dad,” and he kissed her affectionately and led her into 
the house, where her mother and Isabelle were waiting for 
her. 

Isabelle seemed quite at home and was growing lovelier 
every day; her hair reached to her shoulders and she seemed 
to have grown since Miss Hogg last saw her. She was 


THE AilEKICAH HEIKESS 323 

making great 2 )rogress in her studies. Her governess had 
jjroved to be a treasure^ Mrs. Hogg explained. 

Miss Hogg told her parents of the happy time she had 
had in Paris, and of her meeting with the Kev. Mr. Brown- 
low on board the French steamer, and she informed them 
that he was coming the next day to dinner. 

Her father smiled and said, thought it was a lord 
that you were going to bring me for a son-in-law, and now 
you tell me that it is a minister that you have caught. 
Well, you will never be my lady.^^ 

^^0, my heart, who can tell? He might become a 
bishop ; then he would be my lord bishop, and of course I 
would be Lady Brownlow,^^ Miss Hogg said laughingly. 
^^But, you see, dad, I ^m not married yet ; I ^m in no hurry 
to leave you and ma.^^ 

^^That ^s a good girl,^^ said her father, patting her lov- 
ingly on the head. ^^Whenever you do marry, I shall miss 
you, my dear.'^^ 

^^Yes, that we will,’^ said her mother. 

^‘^And so will said Isabelle; and every one laughed 
merrily at the thought that Isabelle would miss so terribly 
Miss Hogg, whom she had only known a few months. The 
little girl hid her face in Miss Hogg^s neck, saying, have 
known you long enough to love you, Mamie, and I ain’t 
forgot that you said to mamma, ‘Take the fair one ; she will 
be lovely.’ ” 

^‘You dear little goose, I don’t deserve your gratitude. 

I love you, but ma loves you best, dear; and she is better 
than I am; yes, far better,” she repeated, thinking of her 
unworthy motives for choosing a fair child. 

The next day the Eev. Mr. Brownlow came at the ap- 
pointed time, and was received by Mrs. Hogg, who expe- 
rienced a strange and unpleasant feeling as she shook hands 
with him; she felt as if she had met him before under 
strange and unpleasant circumstances, but as she looked at 
him she could not say that she had seen him before; it 
must be a resemblance ; that ’s it ; he reminded her of the 
detective who had annoyed her so much about Isabelle. 
Well, perhaps it was his brother; she would ask him in 
time. 

As for Walgrave, he felt far from comfortable under 
Mrs. Hogg’s frank^ innocent eyes. Strange, he thought^ 


324 


MISS HOGG 


Miss Hogg and Katy, with all their cunning had not rec- 
ognized him, and simple, honest Mrs. Hogg had done so 
almost at first sight ; she seemed to feel that he was sailing 
under false colors; he saw at a glance that she disliked 
him and he felt sorry, for it would make it harder for 
him to gain her consent to his marriage with her daughter, 
and he wondered how the father would receive him. Mrs. 
Hogg invited him to be seated, saying that her daughter 
had spoken of him and that she felt honored at his first 
visit, and was sure that her husband would enjoy his com- 
pany, though he was not of the same religious belief as 
himself, for Mr. Hogg and Mamie were Catholics, while 
she had come from a family of Puritans, almost the first 
who had come to America for their religion^s sake; still, 
for the sake of peace, she often went to the Catholic church. 

The Eev. Mr. Brownlow said that he felt delighted at 
having made her acquaintance and thanked her for her 
kind welcome and confidence, saying that he would be 
careful not to hurt Mr. Hogg’s feelings by referring to the 
difference in their religious views ; he certainly exerted 
himself to please, and he partially succeeded. The cloud 
of uneasiness left Mrs. Hogg’s kindly face, and when Mamie 
came in, dressed to kill, she found her mother and Brown- 
low talking like old friends; her eyes flashed and she 
smiled. Walgrave thought that it was the pleasure of see- 
ing him there that brought that smile, and, rising, he held 
out his hand and pressed hers tenderly. Then Mr. Hogg 
came in and was introduced by his daughter to the Eev. 
Sidney Brownlow. 

^^Glad to see you, Mr. Brownlow, though I guess it ’s not 
exactly me that 3^ou ’ve come after, eh, old chap ?” giving the 
reverend gentleman a slap on the shoulder that nearly 
floored him. 

^Tapa,” said Miss Hogg, ^^English people don’t under- 
stand our ways, you know.” 

Hndeed, my girl, he seems to have understood yours or 
he would n’t be here. Don’t you think your old dad knows 
how many blue beans make five?” 

The Eev. Mr. Brownlow hardly knew what to reply to 
such plain speaking. He looked at Miss Hogg, expecting 
to see her the picture of embarrassment and shyness ; but as 
she met his eyes she burst into a loud laugh that would have 


THE a:meuicax heiress 


325 


opened his eyes as to her sentiments towards him had he 
not been so much in love with her himself. lie thought 
she was tr3dng to make it appear that her father was jok- 
ing, and he replied that anyone having enjo3red the pleas- 
ure of Miss Hogg^s company for eight days, as he had, 
could not very well help calling on her family, and that he 
feared that he would not be the only one to do so ; still, he 
did not feel at his ease ; he did not like to be appropriated 
by Mr. Hogg. 

Men are strange beings; they say they love a girl to 
desperation; would give their very life to possess her, and 
if she or her parents consent at the very first asking, the 
young girl loses value in her lover^s eyes; yet, it is frank 
and honest in the young girl if she loyes the young man 
who proposes to her. How can she pain him by a refusal ? 
Yet many have refused for fear of being thought unmaid- 
enly, or because they were not sure of the man^s sincerity, 
thinking, ^^f he really loves me he will not take no for an 
answer; he will ask me again.^^ Some men do, because 
they can see whether a girl loves them or not, but a con- 
ceited fool does not; his false pride is hurt and he almost 
hates the girl whom a few moments before he professed to 
love, and will rush aw'ay indignant at his treatment, calling 
the girl a coquette, and, banging the door after him, will 
go straightway to another, less reserved, who accepts him 
before his anger has had time to cool, knowing all the time 
that he loves another and must have quarreled with her; 
and so unhappy marriages are made. 

Had the young man returned after banging the door, 
ten chances to one he would have found the girl who had 
refused him so timidly, crying her eyes out and breaking 
her heart because he had taken her at her word, and listen- 
ing for every footstep in hope of his return. Men are 
strange animals, and hard to manage. Still, I would say 
here, be frank; if you love, own it modestly, shyly; don’t 
deny it if it be honest, pure; holy love ; and if the man is 
honest and pure-minded he will not misjudge you whom he 
has wished to make his partner for life, for it is the great- 
est compliment a man can pay a woman to make her an 
offer of marriage, to choose her among all others to be all 
in all to him, offering her his love, his protection, his very 
life. Such an offer should not be treated lightly^ evep, 


326 


MISS HOGG 


when it cannot be accepted. Eefuse kindly, not proudly; 
think of his feelings, his heartache, and pity him. Do not 
laugh because you don’t love him and cannot feel the pain 
that he does. Never lead a man to propose for the mere 
pleasure of refusing him. A true, virtuous woman feels 
sorrow at having to refuse, not joy. And remember that 
the time may come when the one you love will turn away 
from you saying, ^^She has no heart ; she has led so many on 
for- the sole purpose of having the satisfaction of refusing 
them.” Then you will understand what a heartache is. 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 32? 


CHAPTER XLVII. 

Walgrave loved Miss Hogg, and yet found fault with 
her father for not making it hard for him to win her. Mrs. 
Hogg came to the rescue by saying, ^^Mr. Brownlow, please 
donH take my husband^s words seriously ; he is not in such a 
hurry to part with his daughter as he would lead you to 
believe.^^ 

And Walgrave^s mind leaned quite the other way; he 
now feared that Mr. Hogg had been laughing at him and 
had no intention of giving him his daughter; and Miss 
Hogg became dearer to him than ever ; he felt that he could 
not live without her. A moment ago he had feared that 
she was going to be thrown at his head. Such is man. 
Walgrave replied, ^^Certainly, madam, and I don^t wonder 
that you have no wish to part with your lovely daughter.^^ 

“0, never mind my lovely self,^^ said Miss Hogg, laugh- 
ing. ^^Let us all go to dinner. This is the second bell, you 
know, ma.^^ 

^Hs it, my dear 

^^Yes, and I^m as hungry as a Turk.^^ 

^^My dear,’^ said her mother, ^^you might express your- 
self a little less strongly.^^ 

^^Well, is n^t it right to say that one is hungry when the 
dinner is ready ? I think that it is paying it a great com- 
pliment, for what is it made for if not to eat, and how can 
we eat it unless we Ye hungry And, turning to Wal- 
grave, she said, ^^Mr. Brownlow, please give your arm to my 
mother ; you two will agree, I know ; and I'll take my old 
dad’s arm ; he has n’t had me for so long.” The old man 
smiled at his daughter, well pleased that she had given him 
the preference. 

The dinner was good and it was enjoyed by all — that 
is, it was all good except the turkey stuffing, which seemed 
to Walgrave to have been made with potatoes, onions, and 
unstoned raisins. He did all he possibly could to swallow 
a few mouthfuls of it, but he found it hard work. Xot so, 
however, with Miss Hogg and her parents, who seemed to 


MISS 


S28 

enjoy it immensely. Walgrave was very fond of stuffing 
as made in England ; bread crumbs soaked in milk, plenty 
of butter, eggs, parsley, finely chopped onions, pepper and 
salt, all well mixed with a few handfuls of the best flour 
and baking powder, and well cooked. England is the place 
for good stuffings and good puddings. 

Eev. Mr. Brownlow became a frequent caller, and was 
often seen riding with Miss Hogg; in fact, all her ac- 
quaintances thought she was engaged to him, and he seemed 
to be growing younger every day. He had sounded Mr. 
Hogg in regard to gaining his consent should he be happy 
enough to win his daughter’s affection, and he had answered 
that he would never stand in the way of his ^^gal’s” happi- 
ness; that he would have preferred a man with plenty of 
money, or a title, but that if Mamie loved him he would 
not say no ; that he had money enough for both, and that he 
would be ready to give his daughter one hundred thousand 
dollars on her wedding day. 

Walgrave was proud, and he really loved Miss Hogg 
for herself, and not for her money, and he said so, and 
added : am not rich, still I have enough to live on with- 

out depending on my wife. I have five hundred pounds a 
year and whatever my calling brings me in, which is nearly 
as much again.’’ 

^^But you have no church,” said Mr. Hogg. 

^^Hot here, certainly; but I have in England; and my 
pay goes on while I am here.” 

It is true his detective pay was going on, but was he 
earning it? Was he going to play Lady Montgomery false 
and drop the case ? Ho, he was too honorable to act falsely 
in a case that he had undertaken; and in marrying Miss 
Hogg he hoped soon to be able to return Lady Florence to 
her aunt. After their marriage he would tell his wife that 
he knew she had Lady Florence in hiding, and he would beg 
of her to allow him to return her to her people; that he 
would manage the business without compromising her; he 
would not even accept the reward that had been offered; 
and she would consent, for she loved him, and eould never 
enjoy peace of mind until she had returned the child, nor 
could he, himself, be happy knowing that his wife had 
abducted her. That would be his fi-r^t work after marriage. 
Then for a life of peace and joy with the woman he loved. 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 329 

Those were his plans. ISTo wonder that he was looking so 
young and happy. 

If Miss Hogg had only loved him, all this would have 
come to pass ; but, unfortunately for poor Walgrave, she did 
not, and he was soon to awaken to the terrible reality that 
he had given his whole heart to, and built his happiness on, 
a heartless, unscrupulous woman, who could play with his 
best affections and enjoy his sufferings. She, never having 
truly loved, could not understand her cruel work ; it was all 
fun to her, but death to Walgrave. His love was true, sin- 
cere, and pure, for he was an honorable man, and his life 
would be wrecked. His love was so strong, that no matter 
what Miss Hogg did to him he would love her still ; yes, as 
long as life lasted. He, who seemed so near happiness, was 
to have the cup dashed from his lips when he least expected 
it, and by the hand of the woman he loved so passionately 
and truly. 

He had been in Hew York three months and it was ar- 
ranged that Miss Hogg^s parents were to give a grand ball 
to celebrate their daughter’s engagement to the Kev. Sidney 
Brownlow of London, and to introduce him to their friends. 
A happier man than Walgra":e could not be found in Hew 
York. He resolved to hasten the wedding after the party. 
He had often written to headquarters, Scotland Yard, in 
London, that he had seen nothing suspicious in Miss Hogg’s 
conduct, but that he had a clew and hoped that in a few 
months he would be able to tell them where they could find 
the child; but he did not say one word about his marriage 
to Miss Hogg. Ho one knew under what name or in what 
disguise he had left Havre ; he would tell them when every- 
thing was over, and would then resign from the detective 
bureau, unless his wife wished him to continue his present 
calling, for he intended to please her in all things. He was 
a true Englishman; a true gentleman; a man to make a 
woman with a heart happy; though a detective, he was 
refined in manner and speech, of kindly nature, respectful 
to all womankind. There is no man in the world like an 
English gentleman to make a woman happy — a refined, 
loving, ladylike woman, I mean. 


330 


MISS HOGG 


CHAPTER XLVIIL 

At last the evening of the party arrived. The Rev. 
Sidney Brownlow was to be recognized and presented as the 
accepted lover of the great heiress. Some, I may say many, 
were surprised that Miss Hogg had not looked higher, and 
chosen a younger man. True, he was a gentleman, and 
seemed to adore her ; there was no mistaking the fact. 

Miss Plogg must have been very fond of her intended 
and very proud of him to have invited so many people to 
meet him. She wore a deep red satin dress with overskirt 
of black lace, a bunch of white roses at her breast and one 
in her hair ; a necklace and bracelet of diamonds, red slip- 
pers with diamond buckles; her strong, white arms were 
bare ; her neck also was bare, and sparkling with diamonds. 
She looked well, though perhaps a little overdressed^ for a 
3'Oung girl. Her mother had proposed a white dress with 
pearl ornaments and pink roses at her breast and in her 
hair; but she had refused, saying that that was too girl- 
ish and innocent for her, at which her mother had looked 
surprised and had said, ^^Really, to hear you talk, Mamie, 
one would take you to be a Avidow, and not a young 
maiden.^^ 

well, please don’t bother ; I know Avhat I ’m about, 
and by and by you ’ll say that I was right.” 

The Rev. ]\Ir. Brownlow arrived early, looking the pic- 
ture of happiness in his new black suit and white choker; 
he wore a red and a white rose in his buttonhole, for Miss 
Hogg had insisted that he should Avear her colors, and her 
Arishes Avere law to him. All agreed that they never had seen 
a man so much in love as this reverend gentleman was, and 
every one prophesied that Miss Hogg AA^ould lead him a life. 

Mrs. Hogg was dressed in plain black satin, Avith white 
lace at her throat and wrists, a knot of mauve colored ribbon 
at her neck and the same in her white lace cap. A diamond 
brooch was her only ornament, except a solitaire ring on 
her finger above her wedding ring. 

As for Mr. Hogg, he Avas all life and importance, with 


1?HE AMERICAlsr HEIRESS 


331 


his cutaway coat, white waistcoat, heavy gold chain, with 
half a dozen trinkets hanging far below the waistcoat, his 
fingers covered with rings of all the colors of the rainbow, 
and his bald head shining like ivory. He walked about the 
room in a pompous manner, with his hands behind him, 
and again, with his thumbs in the armholes of his waist- 
coat, his coat well thrown back, displaying all his jewelry 
to the greatest advantage. Every one could see that he was 
somebody. 

When all the guests were assembled he took the arm of 
the Eev. Mr. Brownlow and introduced him to his friends 
as his future son-in-law, and many jokes were made and 
much slang used, which puzzled the reverend gentleman not 
a little; and he promised himself to take his wife to 
England as soon as possible after their marriage. 

The back parlor had been arranged for dancing; the 
folding doors were opened, so that those who preferred to 
remain in the front parlor, playing cards or conversing, 
could see the dancers without being with them. The Eev. 
Mr. Brownlow remained in the drawing-room talking to 
his future mother-in-law and some other old people. When 
asked if he would not open the ball with his future wife he 
replied that it would not be seemly for him to dance, but 
that he would be most happy to see Miss Hogg enjoy her- 
self with some other partner, which she did with a will, 
seating herself now and then by the side of her intended so 
that he might not feel that she was neglecting him. Every- 
thing was satisfactory to every one. There was plenty to 
drink, both strong and mild, and ice cream and dainties at 
the bujfet, and many were not slow in finding their way 
there, and were becoming flushed, excited, and even ouarrel- 
some. 

Mr. Hogg was jolly; the wine and brandy made him 
merry ; others it had made sad and morose ; he went among 
the young ladies, chucking them under the chin, giving 
them ice cream, and actually danced with one, and be- 
came so excited and rapid in his movements that he came 
in contact with another couple with such violence that all 
four fell in a heap, to the great amusement of those who 
were not in the collision. Some high words were ex- 
changed which hardly sounded aristocratic. Then peace was 


332 MISS HOGGt 

restored^ more drink imbibed^ and Walgrave thought to 
himself there will be trouble before the night is over. 

At last supper was announced and the guests paired off, 
the Eev. Mr. Brownlow with Miss Hogg at his right. 
When, after a great deal of pushing and talking, all were 
seated. Miss Hogg stretched forth her white arm in a com- 
manding manner. 

‘^^Before we begin I should like to say a few words. 
You are all aware that I am engaged to marry the Eev. Mr. 
Brownlow.^^ 

^AYs, yes,^^ was the answer all around. Everybody was 
surprised at Miss Hogg’s words, for it is not customary for 
young girls to make speeches at their engagement feast. 
Walgrave began to feel uneasy. What was she going to 
say ? He loved her dearly, still, he thought she was rather 
too forward for a young lady. Miss Hogg v/aited a mo- 
ment and then continued, with her eyes hashing with tri- 
umph, her head thrown back : 

‘^AVell, my friends, this man is not the Eev. Mr. Brown- 
low, but Detective Walgrave,” and her voice sounded loud 
and clear. ^^He has come here disguised to make trouble 
in our house; he annoyed us greatly while we were in 
London, and he has followed us here for the same purpose.” 

Walgrave had turned as white as a sheet, the blow was 
so unexpected; he placed his right hand on the back of a 
chair to support himself, and looked reproachfully at Miss 
Hogg. 

^^What do you say, my girl ? What ’s the meaning of all 
this?” said her father. ^‘^That man has annoyed you and 
has come here to worry you under false pretenses for the 
sake of your money?” 

deny it,” said Walgrave. wanted to marry your 
daughter because I loved her, not because of her money.” 

^‘^Ha, ha, ha !” laughed Miss Hogg. ^^Do you deny also 
that your name is Walgrave and that you are a detective, 
and is not this badge yours?” putting the badge on the 
table in front of him. 

Poor Walgrave was duiiifounded; he could not justify 
himself before all these people ; he felt that he was in a false 
position and would not be believed; there was too much 
truth in what Miss Hogg had said; so he remained silent 
while many voices were raised in anger and even threats. 


333 


AMERICAiT heiress 

Mrs. Hogg was pale and trembling, and sho murmured, 
^^That man is determined to take my Isabelle from me. 
Why should he persist in thinking that she is that lady’s 
niece ? I was beginning to like him, for I thought he loved 
Mamie.” 

^^And I do, with all my heart,” replied Walgrave, who 
had heard her words, ^^nor did I intend taking Isabelle from 
you ; I am satisfied that she is yours, Mrs. Hogg.” 

Many of the men had approached Walgrave with a 
threatening air, but Miss Hogg said, in a loud voice, ^^Stop, 
all of you; this is my business, not yours; I can fight my 
own battle. N’ow, Mr. Walgrave, I have unmasked you and 
exposed you, as you deserve, so go; leave us, and never 
cross my path again.” 

Poor Walgrave, looking broken-hearted and ten years 
older, looked up at her, saying, Miss Hogg, Mamie, my 
only love, how could you? I loved you with all my heart 
and soul, and shall ever do so.” 

^^You had better think of revenge, and get even with 
me,” replied Miss Hogg, with a laugh. 

^‘^E’ever, Mamie; I shall never be a detective again,” 
said poor Walgrave, looking at her with tears in his sorrow- 
ful eyes; and he walked toward the door murmuring, ^^0, 
how could she be so cruel? I loved her so; she was my 
life; now everything is dark before me.” He descended 
the stairs ; he heard the company laughing, and Miss Hogg 
loudest of all. How he reached the street he hardly knew ; 
he was dazed ; his heart ached terribly and his head was on 
fire. To have lost the woman he loved, and be exposed as a 
cheat, a fortune-hunter, before all these people! 0, she 
had taken a terrible revenge ! And yet he could not hate 
her ; no, he still loved her. He went to his hotel, retired, 
but not to sleep, for he felt as if he could never sleep again ; 
his heart was broken; great, dry sobs escaped him as he 
paced the floor. Then, seating himself at the table, he 
buried his face in his hands and sobbed aloud; he shook all 
over ; it was a pitiful sight. 

Poor Walgrave is not the only one who has been con- 
demned to much suffering by a heartless coquette. He had 
given his whole heart and soul to Miss Hogg, thinking that 
she loved him, and she had heaped shame and insults upon 
him. 0, was it possible? Was he dreaming? 0, would^ 


334 Hoaa 

to God he were! But he still seemed to hear the cruel 
laughter as he went down. "''0, Mamie, Mamie, my hope, 
my life, my lost love 1 I loved you more than I did my dear 
young wife whom I lost nine years ago. 0, that terrible 
wreck when I saw my dear one go down in the cruel waves 
near the Isle of Wight and I was powerless to save her, held 
as I was by strong arms from rushing to certain death 1 — 
for she had disappeared, and I could n't swim. Would that 
they had allowed me to seek death with my Bella ! And to 
think that I loved Mamie better than I did my pure young 
wife of a year! 0, it is a punishment upon me! Was I 
born to endure a lonely life, never to have a true home as 
other men have, with a loving wife and dear little children 
around me? Yet, I was true to you, Bella, all through 
'those years, and have mourned you sincerely. I could not 
speak of my great sorrow, and I allowed people to think that 
I was a bachelor. And after so long a time hope and joy 
had again come into my heart and I felt young again. 0, 
the happiness of the past three months was paradise to me ! 
I had never dreamed of such joy. 0, Mamie, Mamie, my 
all ! I love you still, and it was you who struck the blow 
which crushed my heart, my honor, my prospects in life. I 
have lost, not only you, but the confidence and respect of 
my superiors, and my own self respect. No one will be- 
lieve me when I say I loved Miss Hogg and was not mar- 
rying her for her money. Every one will think I have 
betrayed the trust confided to me to search for Lady Flor- 
ence, and was trying to gain the heiress for my wife, under 
false pretenses, false name, false respectability, intending 
to hide her crime. Ah, me ! the dishonor is great and 
undeserved, for, as God is my judge, my first act after mar- 
riage would have been to send. Lady Florence back to her 
aunt; but no one will believe me now; nor can I explain 
what my intention was without betraying Mamie, and that 
I cannot do ; no, never ! I would give my life to make her 
happy; and when she is found out, as she must eventually 
be, it will add to my sorrow. 0, Mamie, could you not see 
how truly I loved you ? All this sorrow is your work, and 
you could laugh at my broken heart. I hear your laughter 
still.'' 

Bitter sobs escaped him. It is terrible to witness the 
tears of a true-hearted, honorable man like Walgrave, for 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


335 


such men do not weep every day ; and it is no wonder that 
after a night spent in such agony of mind he looked ten 
years older than he did the evening before. He looked at 
himself, saw the change, and said to himself, ^^What does it 
matter? My life is over.^^ 

He prepared to leave the hotel, as he well knew that an 
account of the scene enacted the night before would soon 
reach there, and probably would soon be in the newspapers. 
All 'Rew York would be discussing it, so he left the hotel, 
intending to leave Hew York by the first steamer. On his 
way he entered a restaurant and called for breakfast; he 
would look at the paper for the departure of steamers, and 
as he opened it the first thing that met his eyes was this in 
large print : ^^Great Sensation Among the Four Hundred. 
The party given by the well known heiress. Miss Mamie 
Hogg, last night, to introduce her betrothed, the Eev. Sid- 
]iey Brownlow, ended in disaster. The reverend gentle- 
man proved to be the clever English detective, Henry Wal- 
grave, Avho, it seems, thought it more profitable to make 
love to the heiress than to hunt rogues. Our American 
heiresses are often accused of running after Englishmen, 
but in this case the tables are turned; it was the English- 
man who ran after our heiress, and was rightly punished 
for his presumption. Miss Hogg is a high-spirited young 
lady, and when she discovered that her intended was not 
what he represented himself to be, she unmasked him, and 
right royally too. It seems that she had known of his 
duplicity for some time, and had given this feast in order 
to crush him more effectually. The gentleman had noth- 
ing to say, and soon sneaked out.” 

Poor Walgrave could read no more; he was indeed 
crushed. How much more was said about him he never 
knew; but there were three columns on the subject. As 
many Americans may still remember, it was the talk of 
Hew York and Brooklyn, and the papers were in great 
demand. 


336 


MISS HOGG 


CHAPTEE XLIX. 

The news reached England before Walgrave did^ and 
when he presented himself at Scotland Yard his chief 
hardly knew him ; he looked an old man ; no longer prond 
and erect, but with bent head. He said, ^^Captain, I wish 
to resign.^^ 

Ht^s well you do,^^ was the captain’s answer. ^^You 
show yourself to be clever still by resigning before I have a 
chance to dismiss you. What have you to say in your 
defense ?” 

^^Xothing, captain; I can’t explain.” 

^^Then what the papers say is true. I am surprised, I 
am shocked, Mr. Walgrave, that you, whom we always 
called one of our best men, should have betrayed a trust. 
Surely it cannot be; you can explain,” 

don’t know, nor do I wish to know, all that the papers 
are saying about me. I am sorry not to be able to retire 
from the service with your good opinion and with honor, 
but I cannot explain. All I can say is that what I did I 
did for the best, and I have failed. If I had succeeded 
you would have approved of my conduct. Look at me, 
captain; do I look as if T had been enjoying myself?” 

The captain did look at him; in fact, he had already 
noted the great change in Walgrave. He had left them 
comparatively a young man, and now no one could have 
called him even a middle-aged man; he was bent and 
looked broken. 

can’t make you out, Walgrave,” said the captain, 
after a moment ; ^^you have suffered, I can see that ; and I 
believe that if you were so disposed you could clear both 
yourself and Mathew. Why will you not do so ?” 
cannot, captain; pray, don’t ask me.” 

He left the office and went to his rooms to remain until 
he could determine where to go, for he would leave London 
soon for some retired spot where he would be alone with his 
sad thoughts. 

The next day Walgrave heard a well known step on the 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


337 


stairs, and soon a knock at his door, which opened almost 
at the same time, and Mathew was before him; but as he 
looked at Walgrave he stood still, and a look of surprise and 
real sorrow came into his eyes. Then he came forward and 
held out his hand, which Walgrave took feebly. 

’m sorry to see you look so ill,^^ said Mathew. 

Cheer up, donT give way like that; we ^11 yet get that she 
devil. Miss Hogg. DonT think for a moment that I 
])elieve what they say about you in the papers. I know 
her; it ^s some of her tricks. You in love with her, and 
vranting to marry her — the brazen baggage ! How dare 
she assert such a thing 

^^DonT, Matthew ; pray don’t abuse her.” 

^^What !” cried Mathew, jumping up from, his chair, 
^^are you mad ? 0, she must have bewitched you ! But 

wait. I ’m going to hunt her up ; I ’m not in love with her ; 
I defy her to bewitch me, and when I get her in my power 
I ’ll show her no mercy.” 

^^Mathew, Mathew, remember that I love her.” 

^^But, Mr. Walgrave, she must have worked a charm on 
you. A clever, honorable man like you, to fall in love at 
the age of forty for the first time, and with a person of Miss 
Hogg’s caliber ! I can’t make it out, for I know that her 
money could n’t tempt you ; I know you too well for that.” 

^^Thank you, my friend ; but this is not the first time I 
have loved.” And he told the surprised Mathew of his 
young wife, who had gone down in the J ersey packet com- 
manded by Captain Goodridge, who had himself gone 
down with about twenty of his crew and a few passengers. 
The brave old captain wanted every passenger to leave the 
sinking ship, which had struck on the rocks near the 
Yeedles. All the boats were lowered and there was a rush 
for them, but the captain’s orders were that all the women 
and children should go first. Walgrave had hurried his 
young wife into one of the boats, telling her, as he em- 
braced her, to cheer up, he would soon rejoin her, and from 
the deck he had watched the^boat as far as he was able to 
see, for the fog was thick. Suddenly a terrible cry was 
heard ; the boat had upset, and all in it were seen struggling 
in the water. For a moment Walgrave had seen his beloved 
wife, then she had gone down. He rushed to the side of 
the sinking steamer and would have jumped overboard, but 


338 


MISS HOGG 


the first officer grabbed him by the arm, saying, ^^Can yon 
swim?^^ but I must go to her,^^ was his answer; but 

the officer held him back, saying, ‘^It is too late; she has 
sunk/^ Many of those who were struggling in the water 
were picked up. Mrs. Walgrave was never found. The 
boats, after taking all the passengers to a place of safety, 
returned with other boats, for the brave captain and 
crew; they hunted in the fog, but to no purpose; the 
steamer had gone down with all the brave men on board. 
A monument has since been erected to their memory, on 
the pier — the Victoria pier — in the Island of Jersey, and 
it can yet be seen there recording those facts. 

When Mathew had heard Walgrave^s story he felt sorry 
for him. Still he could not understand that having been 
faithful to his wife’s memory for so many years he should 
have fallen so desperately in love with Miss Hogg, and 
he told him so. 

‘^^Don’t say a word more about Miss Hogg. I shall 
alway^s love her; I can’t help it.” 

^^And what are you going to do now?” asked Mathew, 
think I shall go and live in the suburbs of 
Southampton, facing the Isle of Wight, near where my 
first love was lost; perhaps that will drive this mad love 
from my heart. I will at least have quiet there; no, no 
happiness, my boy, that can never be.” 

Mathew left him, thanking him for the confidence he 
had placed in him, and he determined to hunt Miss Hogg 
without mercy, whatever Walgrave might say. 

A few days later Walgrave had left London for 
Southampton, and after some trouble he found a small 
cottage by the sea. It will seem a strange whim for him 
to go to so lonely a spot to nurse his troubles, old and 
new; but he had given up all hopes of happiness in this 
world, and was only waiting for death, never expecting 
that brighter days would come for him, and that his first 
and his last love would join Ijands, figuratively speaking, 
and fill his heart with pure, holy love. The ways of God 
are mysterious; everything worketh for our good: if we 
could only see it in that light our sorrows would be less 
heavy to bear ; but poor humanity is weak, and when we are 
not allowed to find happiness in our own v/ay we give up 


AMERICAN heiress 33d 

hope and see only the dark clouds that surround us; 
we will not look for the silver lining. 

Walgrave at this time believed it impossible for him 
ever to know or enjoy another day of happiness; but time 
will show, and in what beautiful shape it will come to 
him, and how he will bless and thank God for the great 
gift. 

Mathew resolved to begin again the search for Lady 
Florence. Miss Hogg had not taken her to America. 
Walgrave had said during their conversation that he had 
seen nothing suspicious in her conduct, and that the child 
must be somewhere at some school ; that was his belief, 
and Mathew had agreed with him; still, for eight months 
they had searched for the missing girl, and they were no 
more advanced to-da}^ than they were the very first day, 
and were less hopeful. 

Mathew left for France once more and secured the 
aid of M. Eobert; they visited every convent and every 
boarding school in France, leaving in each a picture of 
the child, and orders to communicate with either of them 
should she be brought to their school. They then visited 
Belgium and Germany, but no trace of the child could be 
found. Mathew returned disheartened; he reported what 
had been done, aud Lord and Lady Montgomery agreed 
that they could not have done more, and that perhaps, after 
all. Miss Hogg had had nothing to do with it, and that 
they had all been working on the wrong tack; some show- 
man or circus man had gotten her. Mathew knew better, 
but as he had failed to prove Miss Hogg guilty he only 
said, will keep my eyes open and report to you at 
once should I find a clew.^^ He received a large sum of 
money for expenses and departed, leaving Lady Mont- 
gomery and her son almost heartbroken, for they were 
losing hope of ever seeing the child again. More than 
eighteen months had elapsed since that dreadful night 
of her disappearance, when they paid Mathew and lost 
hope. 


340 


M1S3 HOGG 


CHAPTEE L* 

What had become of Lady Florence during this long 
loeriod? We left her boarding a steamer for Germany with 
Mrs. J erry, who, on arriving at Hamburg, went into private 
lodgings and waited for further orders — her letter giving 
her no other directions. But some days later she received 
another letter, from her son, saying that he was at Liverpool 
and would leave for New York in one of the packets as a 
poor seaman, and work his passage, — no one would look for 
him there; and that Miss Hogg had given him a letter 
for her and had asked him to write to her and tell her to 
leave Germany for Italy, and that she was to employ a 
governess for the young lady, as she feared to send her 
to school for the present, and that she must act with 
great caution; that Miss Hogg dare not act herself, 
for the detectives were watching her, and should any of her 
letters fall into their hands they would all be lost. 

Mrs. Jerry, under the name of Mrs. Martin, soon took 
her departure for Italy, and on the Avay there made the 
acquaintance of the Countess de Pascalina, who greatly 
admired the little girl, and when told by Mrs. Martin 
that they intended to remain in Italy long enough to learn 
the language the countess said, ^^We have fine schools; 
which one is she to attend 

don^t know yet,^^ replied Mrs. Martin, not wish- 
ing to say too much on so short an acquaintance with the 
countess. 

^‘^May I recommend you one? I am well acquainted 
with the superioress of La Madonna Maria.” 

^^Well, madam,” said Mrs. Martin, hardly know 
what to say; if I place this young lady in a convent and 
anything should happen to her it would kill her parents. 
My mistress told me not to allow her out of my sight for 
a moment, and I have been thinking that if I could find 
a nice suite of apartments somewhere in the suburbs I 
might employ a governess and masters for her and then 
I could watch over her.” 


THE AMEKICAH HEIHESS 341 

^^That a very good plan/^ said the countess, ^^but very 
expensive/^ 

^‘'0, her parents are rich, and she is an only child; they 
will not mind the expense so long as she gets a good 
education and comes back to them safe/^ 

The Countess de Pascalina reflected a few moments, 
looking admiringly at the child. She had no children of 
her own; she was a widow living a rather retired life 
at her chateau near the beautiful city of Naples. She 
said, ^‘^Since you have nothing settled I have a proposition 
to make to you. My chateau is large, and since I lost 
my dear husband, the Count de Pascalina, I have lived 
a secluded life; I see but few people, but those who visit 
me are of the best families in Italy. As I have taken 
a great liking to your charge, we may make some arrange- 
ment that will be advantageous to both parties. I propose 
that you and the young lady come home with me, say on 
a visit for a week, and should you like my home, we wilJ 
make arrangements for you to stay. It will certainly 
ver}'’ advantageous for your charge, who will have an oppor- 
tunity to mingle with the aristocracy of Italy, and learn 
to speak the pure, perfect Italian language. I am not rich, 
though of noble family; my father was the Count de 
Farina, and my late husband the Count de Pascalina ; and 
if I could add to my income in a way that would not 
disgrace our noble name I would do it, should you approve 
of my terms, which will be easy, for I have taken quite a 
fancy to Isabelle.^^ 

^^You are very kind,^^ said Mrs. Martin, rejoicing at 
the turn the affair was taking. She certainly would 
accept the countesses offer, whatever price she asked, for 
no one would look for Lady Florence in the chateau of the 
Countess de Pascalina; she said, ^Tf your price is at all 
within my means, but 1^^ — 

^^Not at all, Mrs. Martin; after you have seen my home, 
inake inquiries and find out what a suite of rooms in 
a respectable house would cost you — Aboard and lodgings — 
and my price will be the same. What do you say to my 
•offer r 

think I will accept it with thanks, madam ; you will 
understand better than I how to choose her governess and 
masters, and I will write to my mistress and tell he^ 


MISS ItO(SKJ 


m 

how lucky I have been in finding a home for Miss Isabelle 
in a chateau, and having her treated as an equal by the 
Countess de Pascalina, for of course you will so treat her, 
will you not?^^ 

^^Certainly, that is my intention. I love the child, 
and her people must have good blood, for she is a perfect 
lady.^^ 

better blood in all England, madam,^’ replied 
Mrs. Martin, truthfully. ^^But won’t your friends look 
down on her when they learn that she is only your lodger ?” 

^^0, Sancta Maria, what are you saying? I don’t 
intend that my friends shall know that she is my lodger; 
it would be better for all that they should believe her to 
be a relation of mine — the daughter of a cousin of mine 
who married an Englishman — and that would account for 
her being so fair. No one would dare to doubt my word.” 

^^Certainly not, madam, and it would make it more 
comfortable for Miss Isabelle, and she will not disgrace 
you; and, as for myself, I will be her nurse, lady’s maid, 
and anything else that you wish me to be as long as my 
young lady is happy.” 

^^Well, then, you come with me now to my chateau just 
as if I had brought you back with me from England.” 

And so matters had been arranged, and Lady Florence 
had been residing ever since with the Countess de Pasca- 
lina as her cousin, and mingled with the noblesse of Italy, 
and she could speak the language to perfection in all its 
soft purity. The countess loved her dearly, and the child 
returned her affection sincerely. Mrs. Martin was also 
happy so far as comfort went, though she often wished 
that she could see her son. 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


343 


CHAPTER LI. 

Two years passed away. Miss Hogg was again in 
England accompanied by her sister Isabelle de Courtney 
and some American friends. Isabelle had grown to be 
a lovely young girl of more than ten years, tall for her 
age; her hair reached her waist, and curled beautifully. 
i\Iamie was proud of her, and had coaxed her mother to be 
allowed to take her with her and leave her at school in Paris, 
so that she might learn to speak the French language cor- 
rectly. Mrs. Hogg would have preferred to keep Isabelle with 
her, but, as she said, Mamie was headstrong and imperious 
and for the sake of peace she had allowed the child to go, 
though she would miss her dreadfully, and Mamie must 
bring her back if she kept on feeling lonely. 

Katy, though married, still lived with Miss Hogg. 
She had married J erry, and though still full of fun she had 
tamed down considerably, and would have preferred to 
remain behind, for she feared that Miss Hogg would get 
her into trouble sooner or later. Had Jerry been one 
of the party Katy would have gone more willingly, but 
to part with her husband was hard for her, for they loved 
each other dearly; but Jerry reminded her of what they 
owed to Miss Hogg, for she had been very kind to them 
both, and had promised either to bring back Mrs. Jerry 
or send her to America as soon as possible. So Miss Hogg, 
Isabelle, and Katy had left Kew York, and Jerry had 
remained behind. Mrs. Hogg had had enough of England 
and France and preferred to stay at home. She made 
Mamie swear not to give up Isabelle to anyone. 

^^Well, I like that Miss Hogg had said. ^‘^Who would 
dare to claim her? She’s ours, so don’t fret, ma; we’ll 
leave her in France for a year or so, so that she can learn to 
speak French and be a credit to us. Don’t you remember 
what blunders you and I made when we were there? 0, 
my heart, what fools we looked !” 

really wish you would select your words when speak- 
ing to your mother. I don’t think we looked any more like 


344 


MISS HOGG 


fools than any other people who didn^t understand the 
language. If you had n^t got into such a passion as you 
often did we would not have been noticed.^^ 

^^Well, perhaps you ^re right, ma, and when I go there 
again I ^11 be on my guard ; try to drop all my American 
slang and never get angry.^^ 

• wish you could, Mamie ; and don’t go and force your 
company on any of those English lords.” 

ma,” answered Mamie, blushing at the recollec- 
tion of what had happened at Lady Montgomery’s man- 
sion. 

^^And don’t bring any more English detectives here 
as you did last time. I often think of that poor Mr. 
Brownlow — I mean Walgrave — and somehow I pity him, 
for I know what love is, and I ’m sure that he loved you 
truly.” 

^^Well, if he did, do you mean to say that you wish I 
had married him?” 

^^No, my dear; but you should not have encouraged him 
to that extent. I can’t understand you; you .will be 
twenty-four on your next birthday and you have never 
yet truly loved anyone.” 

^^Well, I don’t know, ma; I have liked a great many 
men; even that Walgrave I had a liking for before I found 
him out.” 

^^0, a liking is not love, my dear ; and be careful that 
you don’t fall in love with some one in England — I mean 
some one who may not be willing to return your love.” 

will, ma; in fact I don’t think that I shall ever 
marry; I like my freedom too much. I could never bear 
to have any man boss me; I think I would knock him 
down if he tried it.” 

^^Not if you loved him, my dear.” 

^^Well, perhaps not.” 

And so they parted. Mrs. Hogg waving her handker- 
chief, standing on the pier, to her daughter and to Isabelle, 
whom she loved just as much as she did her own daughter, 
and with whom she agreed better, as Isabelle was of a more 
gentle nature. 

The steamer arrived safely in Liverpool, and Miss 
Hogg and party left the next morning for London, stopping 
at the Victoria Hotel. She could not bear to go to the 


THE AHEKiCAiT HEIRESS 


345 

Temperance Hotel after what had happened there nearly 
two years ago. She had no wish to revive the scandal, 
especially as she had Isabelle with her, and as she really 
had come more to see Lady Florence than to place Isabelle 
at school she must be careful. 

Mathew soon learned that Miss Hogg had arrived in 
London, and he managed to see her and Isabelle without 
being seen by her. The great beauty of the little girl struck 
him. If she was the one he had seen at Eichmond she 
had certainly changed for the better. What lovely long 
golden hair! He could really not decide if she was the 
child he had seen there. So he called on Lord Mont- 
gomery and made his report, and Lord Montgomery said 
that he himself would call on Miss Hogg and see the 
young lady. 

Miss Hogg was certainly surprised to receive Lord 
Montgomery’s card on the afternoon of the third day of 
her arrival. Yes, she would see him, she said to the 
servant, and he walked in, looking handsomer than ever, 
for two years had improved him; he was taller, stouter, 
and more manly. Miss Hogg’s heart beat, and for a 
moment her hopes returned. If she told him where his 
cousin was would he forgive her, would he consent to 
marry her? She would sound him. Eising from her 
chair, she held out her hand to him, saying, am glad to 
see you. Lord Montgomery, though a little surprised;” 
but Lord Montgomery did not take her extended hand; 
he simply bowed, and Miss Hogg’s anger knew no bounds ; 
her face flushed and her dark eyes flashed; she felt 
humiliated to the last degree, vowed vengeance in her 
heart, and, dropping into the seat again, she said, with less 
anger than might have been expected, for she remembered 
her mother’s words and tried hard to keep down her 
temper : 

^Well, my lord, as apparently you have not come here 
to make me a friendly visit, will you kindly state your 
business ; take a chair, if you will, and, if not, I hope you 
won’t expect me to stand also, for I don’t intend to do 
it.” 

^^Miss Hogg,” said Lord Montgomery, placing his hand 
on the back of a chair, have come in my mother’s name, 
in my own name, to plead with you and to ask you to 


346 


MISS HOGG 


return Lady Florence to us if you really did take her away ; 
no steps will be taken against you or against anyone who 
may have helped you in the abduction, I pledge you my 
word of honor; and if you did it in a moment of anger 
at the supposed wrong we did you, surely our two long 
years of anxiety ought to satisfy you. When I heard of 
your arrival a hope sprang into my heart that you were 
bringing her back to us ; was I mistaken, Miss Hogg 

He waited for an answer ; it came hard and crushing : 

^^Xo; I have not brought your cousin b^ck for the 
simple reason that I have n^t got her. Are you going to 
have me followed and pestered as you did two years ago? 
I have my sister with me;^^ she rang the bell; ^^and you 
had better see her while 3^ou are here, for I will not have 
the child annoyed or frightened by your detectives.’^ 

The servant appeared and was sent for Isabelle, who 
soon came in, a vision of beauty and happiness; she went 
up to Miss Hogg, threw her arms around her neck, and, 
kissing her affectionately, said, ^^You want me, sister 
Mamie ?” 

^^Yes, Isabelle and turning toward Lord Montgomery, 
she said, ^Tsabelle, you know this gentleman?” 

The child had not noticed before that anyone was in 
the room, and she looked at Lord Montgomery in surprise, 
and then a rosy tint came into her fair cheeks, and she 
answered quietly, ^^Yes, it is the same gentleman who came 
with a lady who had lost her little girl and thought I was 
she. I hope she has found her by this time.” 

^^ISTo,” said Lord Montgomery, sadly, and looking ad- 
miringly at the little girl, regretting that she was not Lady 
Florence — she was aristocratic enough to be; still, he 
was perfectl}^ satisfied that she was not his cousin. H 
wish we had found her, for we are very unhappy on her 
account.” 

Turning to Miss Hogg, he said, ^^You give me your 
word that you had nothing to do with her disappearance. 
Miss Hogg ?” 

^^Certainly I do; how many times do you want to be 
told ? What could I do with your cousin ?” 

Lord Montgomery bowed and left the room without 
another word. He certainly had not played his cards well 
with such a person as Miss Hogg, who had so little rega rd 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


347 


for truth. Her word went for nothing. Lord Montgomery, 
as a gentleman, could not have acted in any other maiuKu* 
than he had done. Had he been a detective he would 
have taken Miss Hogg^s proffered hand, and, by so doing, 
would have made a friend instead of an enemy. How could 
he expect her to tell him where his cousin was after that 
insult? And yet, after what had occurred he could not 
give her his hand; no honorable man could have done it; 
but had it been possible for him to do so the result would 
have been different, as in her mad hopes, for a moment 
she had believed it possible to make terms with him; she 
was not exactly in love with him, but he was so grand 
looking, and a lord to boot, that had he taken her hand 
and pressed it, and then sat down by her side, he would 
have had the happiness of seeing his cousin soon; she 
could not have resisted him. And then she was almost 
tired of hiding Lady Florence. But when he insulted her 
by refusing her hand the bitterness in her heart was great 
and she would rather have seen Lady Florence dead than to 
return her to her cousin that he might marry her some 
day. hTo, never should he see her again. How dare he 
refuse her hand ! Had she thought of all that had passed 
between herself and Lord and Lady Montgomery she 
would never have offered her hand. 

Poor Miss Hogg ! Why was she not born a lady ? Had 
she been one she would never have offered her hand to 
Lord Montgomery, and she would have been saved the 
bitter humiliation she had just gone through. She felt 
very much put out for some time ; then she became calm 
and began to enjoy herself, attending parties, picnics, and 
theaters, and was very much admired. Isabelle often ac- 
companied her to theaters and was also very much admired. 
Lady Montgomery had seen her and wondered who she 
could be. When told by her son of the great beauty a hope 
had come to her that it might be her niece, but as soon as 
she saw her she had to admit that it was not, but the 
child that they had already taken to be Lady Florence; 
so she came to the conclusion that after all Miss Hogg had 
not taken her, and that the detectives had been on the 
wrong track so long that the guilty parties had had time 
to make their escape. 

Where was the dear child now? Perhaps in poverty; 


348 


MISS HOGG 


perhaps dead or illtreated. 0, it was terrible to be kept in 
suspense ! It would be better to know that she was dead 
than to imagine her in all kinds of suffering with low 
and wicked people. Lady Montgomery knew no peace after 
their great loss. Her son also felt it deeply, and they were 
both beginning to despair ; it was so long ago, and no clew 
had been found that led to anything but cruel disappoint- 
ment. 

Miss Hogg was not annoyed by detectives during her 
stay in London. Before leaving for Paris she called at the 
St. Pancras Home, saw the matron and asked her to hunt 
up the piece of fine linen in which Isabelle de Courtney 
had been wrapped when she was left there. The matron 
replied that there was no need to hunt for it, for it was on 
one of the shelves, well ticketed, and she gave it to Miss 
Hogg, who, in return, gave her a five dollar bill. When 
she was alone with Katy she examined the contents of 
the parcel, which proved to be a piece of fine cambric, 
seemingly from a nightdress, and near the hem was 
written in India ink ^Tsabelle de Courtney.^’ Had it been 
written there as a mark for the linen or as a name to 
be given to the child — who could tell? A fine flannel 
petticoat was also in the parcel, and, when examined, it 
proved to be marked the same way on the waistband. 
Some one of the name of Isabelle de Courtney had worn 
these clothes, but how came the child to be wrapped up 
in them? It was a mystery which, so far, had not been 
solved; would it ever be? That remained to be seen. A 
thin, old black shawl, of common material, was also in the 
parcel. It could never have belonged to the same person 
as the nightdress and petticoat ; it was puzzling, to say the 
least. Had the mother been murdered by the owner of the 
old shawl for the sake of money or jewelry? But no; 
for had that been so why not have murdered the child also 
instead of risking discovery by leaving her at the door 
of St. Pancras Church ? And where was the father ? Why 
had he not sought his child, and how came the wife to 
be in such a position as to be compelled to place her baby 
in a home, if she had done it, and if not, who had ? That 
was the question ; if that could be solved the rest would be 
easy, but how and what steps were to be taken to reach 
this much desired end they h^^d no idea. 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


349 


said Miss Hogg, are not much better off 
with these clothes than we were without them. What do 
you sa}^, Katy?'^ 

^^As far as I can see we can do nothing for the present ; 
but you must be careful to keep those clothes ; it ^s hard to 
say if in time they will not prove her birth; but I 
should n^t think that you ^d be in a hurry to find out, for 
you might have to part with her. And, again, her birth 
may not be what you would wish her to know.^^ 

^^0, bosh! if Isabelle is not well born no one ever 
was, so don’t talk such trash; you ought to be ashamed 
of yourself. I tell you she will turn out some day to be 
a grand lady or my name is not Mamie Hogg, and, who- 
ever her parents were or are, she will always love us. 
I do wish I could find out where she comes from. Put 
those things away, Katy, and be sure they don^t get lost. 
Don^t tell ma about them or it will set her to fretting 
for fear of losing Isabelle. We leave here to-morrow for 
Paris. I wonder if you will meet your sweetheart, 
Monsieur Eobert.^^ 

^"^0, it won^t matter much if I do,^^ said Katy, 
laughing, ^^for I ^m a married woman now and can’t flirt 
with anyone. I wonder what he would say if he knew I 
had married Thomas whom I seemed to hate so much, 
and that Thomas had discovered that he loved me when 
he, Kobert, had stood him up on his head in the big trunk. 
Poor Jerry’s love must have been low down to require 
such an operation to bring it up to his head.” 

And they both laughed at the recollection of those 
times. 

^^0, my heart, but we had high old times,” replied 
Miss Hogg ; ^ Ve are not likely to be troubled by detectives, 
the thing happened so long ago and Lady Montgomery 
no longer suspects me, so that we shall be pretty dull, I ’m 
afraid.” 

^^0, well, I should smile ! How you talk, Mamie, when 
you know well that Mathew knows that it was you who 
took Florence and had her sent to the IJrsuline Convent at 
Antwerp. Didn’t Eobert hear us talk about it in Mrs. 
Jerry’s room, when he was listening at the door^ a^ 
Jerry heard him tell Mathew afterwards ?” 


350 


MISS HOGG 


yes; I had almost forgotten. AVell, we shall have 
to be on our guards that ’s all.'’^ 

^‘Do you really intend to put Miss Isabelle to school 
in Paris 

course I do; she will run no risk; why do you 
ask 

^^Because I thought you intended to put the other 
young lady there, and that you had taken Miss Isabelle 
as a blind.^^ 

^^0, no; I intend Isabelle to remain at school in Paris 
for at least a year; then another year in Germany; that 
will be my excuse for coming to Europe, for I want to see 
Lady Florence often; but I will leave her under the 
protection of the Countess de Pascalina; no one will look 
for her there.^’ 

^^But, Mamie, what will you do with her when she 
is grown up?^^ 

^^0, don’t bother,” replied Miss Hogg, losing her temper 
at the recollection of the new insult she had received 
from Lord Montgomery, about which Katy knew nothing, 
so she was surprised to see her flare up for no reason that 
she could see. ^^You really provoke me, Katy,” she con- 
tinued more calmly ; ^Hhere ’s plenty of time to consider 
the matter; she is not eleven yet. How the time passes! 
Just think, it is more than two years since we ran away 
with her. I shall never forget the dreadful night when 
I lost my way.” 

^^ISTor I, Mamie; how I did tremble! I could never 
again go through what I did then, and it is not likely that 
Lady Montgomery and the captain have forgotten it 
either, I ’ll bet, though it happened two years and eight 
months ago. Lady Florence must be quite as tall as 
Miss Isabelle, if not taller, for she was very tall for her 
age when we took her away.” 

^"^Yes, you ’re right ; we shall hardly know her again ; 
her hair must be very long by this time; I was really 
sorry to have to cut it. She must have almost forgotten 
her aunt and cousin, for, after all, she had been with them 
only a few months, and having had no one to remind her 
of them she can hardly long to return to them as she 
did at first.” 

^^Fo, Mamie; especially as she has become so fond^of 


tfHfi AMERICAN HEIHESS 


351 


the countess. Still, she was too old when we took her 
away to forget them entirely, and were she to see her 
aunt and cousin it would all come back to her.^^ 

^^Well, Katy, perhaps you^re right so far as the aunt 
is concerned; but she would not recognize her cousin; 
he has changed so much for the better that I hardly 
l^new him myself.^^ 

^^Have you seen him?'^ asked Katy, in surprise. 

^^Yes, I have; did n^t he come to my hotel a few days 
after we arrived and ask me if I had brought back his 
cousin, and did n^t I swear black and blue that I had 
never taken her, and did n^t he swallow it like a pill ? 
He was very much disappointed, still, he believed me, 
and he has left us in peace ever since.'’^ 

ftiought Katy, ^^there must have been a terrible 
scene between them, for I have never heard of this before, 
and Mamie looks mad,^^ but she only said, did n’t know 
that he had called to see you, but I have often wondered 
that we have not been followed, for I expected it; now I 
understand why; they must be pji another tack, and I 
am glad of it.^^ 

At that moment Isabelle came in and they dropped 
the conversation. The next day they left for Paris and 
were soon comfortably situated at the Hotel de Paris, 
where they met several American friends, and for a few 
weeks Isabelle enjoyed the beauties of the great French 
capital. She was then taken to the Convent du Sacre 
CoGur, and left there as a boarder. Miss Hogg promising to 
call to see her every day until she became accustomed to 
the place. She and Katy then left for Germany, with 
the understanding that on their return they would make 
her another visit. The little girl was quite at home, and 
well pleased, for the sisters were very kind to her. 


352 


MISS HOGS 


CHAPTER LII. 

Miss Hogg had not been unobserved. Robert had 
met them a few days after their arrival and had recognized 
Miss Hogg and Katy; ithe little girl he had never before 
seen, so that it was not possible for him to decide whether 
or not she was the missing child. He wired to Mathew, 
apprising him of Miss Hogg’s doings. Mathew’s reply 
was to watch, but that the young lady noAv with Miss 
Hogg was not Lady Florence, and they could not find out 
what had become of her; that nothing suspicious had been 
seen in Miss Hogg’s conduct for the past two years, but 
that he might watch her movements if he so chose. He did 
so, and reported what we already know. He followed her 
to Germany, never losing sight of her, but saw nothing but 
what seemed straight with Miss Hogg; so he returned to 
Paris, leaving her free to go to Italy, which she did a week 
after Robert’s departure. 

On arriving at N’aples her first movement was to 
ascertain whether she had been followed by Robert, for she 
had seen him during her stay in Paris and in Germany, and 
she now wanted to make sure that she was not watched by 
him or some one else; but after a week had elapsed and 
she had seen nothing to indicate that she was being 
followed, she wrote to Mrs. Jerry to come to her at her 
hotel; she came, and plans were made. Mrs. Jerry was 
to go back to the countess and tell her that the young 
lady’s aunt had just arrived from Australia and would 
call on her in a day or two to thank her for her kind 
care of her niece, and to see the latter. The countess was 
very much pleased to learn that some of her charge’s 
relatives were coming to see her; she was curious to know 
what they were like; judging from the child, they must be 
refined and aristocratic people; and I must say that she 
was disappointed when she saw Miss Hogg, although she 
was very richly dressed and not nearly so vulgar as she 
was when we first made her acquaintance, for traveling 
had certainly improved her appearance and speech. She 


AMlgRiOAK HEIIiJEgg 353 

sometimes forgot herself when angry or excited, and then 
she used slang, but not as often as formerly. 

The countess, being a lady, felt at once that Miss 
Hogg had no blue blood ; for there is a certain freemasonry 
among the aristocracy, a certain feeling of equality that 
makes its members at ease with each other, which grand 
speeches and fine dress alone cannot do. The countess 
knew this, and wondered more and more at the appearance 
of Miss Hogg, for there was no doubt that the little lady 
she had had with her for so long was an aristocrat; her 
voice, her walk, her every movement, proclaimed her one 
of the ten thousand. 

Miss Hogg did not feel quite easy under the glance 
of the countess, who seemed to read her through and 
through to find the true relationship existing between 
her and Isabelle Eeynolds. The countess asked, ^^Are you 
the young lady^s aunt on the mother’s side?” 

replied Miss Hogg; ^^only by marriage; no blood 

relation.” 

^^0, 1 understand,” said the countess ; ^^you will pardon 
me for asking ; I saw no resemblance, and wondered if she 
resembled her mother.” 

^^She is the image of her mother,” said Miss Hogg; 
^^and as I was coming to England her parents asked me 
to call and see the child and to make arrangements for her 
to spend a year in Germany at school; unless you could 
reside there yourself for that period they would prefer to 
have her with you, and I think with them that it would 
be to their advantage. I see that you are attached to her. 
You would be conferring a great favor on us all could 
you so far sacrifice your own inclinations as to accompany 
her to Germany and keep her under your care. Her 
parents are willing to double the price now paid should 
you consent to the arrangement, and as she no longer 
requires a nurse Mrs. Martin can go back with me. You 
can consider the matter at your leisure, as I have made 
up my mind to spend the winter in Italy, and you need not 
leave for Germany until I leave here, as I wish to see 
as much of my niece as possible so as to report her prog- 
ress to her father and mother.” 

So it was arranged for the present to the satisfaction 
of all parties. Mrs. Martin told Lady Florence she must 


Miss Hoaa 


354 

not deny anything that the lady who called herself Mrs. 
Eeynolds would say. The child^ strange to say, grew very 
fond of Miss Hogg, who was certainly very kind to her, and 
always brought her presents. The countess, after due 
consideration, consented to go to Germany for a year or 
more, for, though she was of noble birth, she was not 
rich, and Miss Hogg’s generous offer would add greatly 
to her income. 

Miss Hogg remained in Italy all winter, though not all 
the time at Naples; she went to Rome and had the pleasure 
of kneeling before the pope and kissing his feet. She 
visited Venice, Florence, and other small towns, return- 
ing at intervals to Naples to visit the countess, who often 
wondered why, since she was so fond of her niece, she 
did not take her with her. But Miss Hogg was too cute to 
risk discovery by taking Lady Florence with her. Katy 
was left with the countess, and acted as maid to the young 
lady, whom she amused in many ways, and whose beauti- 
ful, wavy hair, now reaching below her waist, she brushed 
and twisted round her fingers. She was really a beauty 
with golden hair, tall and slim, willowy and supple. She 
often rode a pony almost as golden as her own hair, but 
whose mane and tail were nearly white. The child’s own 
aunt. Lady Montgomery, could she have seen her, would 
have been compelled to admit that even if she had been 
under her own care all this time she could not have been 
more accomplished and refined. 

The day of parting came at last ; Miss Hogg and Katy 
were to return to America, passing through Paris to see 
Isabelle de Courtney; but the countess thought they were 
returning to Australia and asked for their address, or 
til at of the young lady’s parents. 

^^Certainly,” replied Miss Hogg, ^^but it will not be 
necessary to write often unless something unlooked for 
occurs, for you know the old saying that no news is 
good news. I will send you a remittance every six months, 
and probably will make you another visit next year. Still , 
should anything happen to Isabelle write at once and 
address your letters to me, Mrs. H. J. Reynolds, care of 
Mr. Bridgewell, lawyer. No. 9 Regent street, London, W. 
C.” Tlie countess looked surprised, and a cloud appeared 
on he*, usually calm face. Why give this address in 


THE AMERICAN- HEIRESS 


355 


London instead of Australia ? Something must be wrong, 
else why make a mystery of the residence of the child’s 
parents? Miss Hogg hastened to explain that they, the 
])arents, were thinking of returning to England as SQon 
as they could find a purchaser for their property — and 
that might be at any moment — they might leave Australia. 
A letter sent to them might miss them, so she had thought 
it best to give her the family lawyer’s address, for he would 
always know where to forward her letters ; so the countess, 
though not quite sure that these were the real reasons, 
had to be satisfied, and, not possessing a prying mind, 
she let the matter drop. 

Soon after Miss Hogg’s departure she left for Hamburg, 
taking the Italian governess and some of the servants with 
her, and she was soon settled in a pretty villa in the 
suburbs of the town, and a German governess and music 
teacher were engaged for the young lady. Her pony 
arrived a few days later, and they all soon felt quite at 
home among the Germans, where we shall leave them, and 
follow Miss Hogg, who, according to promise, visited 
Isabelle de Courtney at her convent. She felt the part- 
ing with Miss Hogg and sent thousands of kisses to 
mamma in America; she was going to learn French as 
quickly as possible, and go back to her, and she would write 
every week. 

Miss Hogg returned to London by way of Havre and 
Southampton, and remained at the Commercial Hotel 
with only Katy. They went about a great deal sight-seeing. 
One day they visited an old ruin that had been a church 
and convent in the time of Mary Stuart, and in turning 
a corner they met a gentleman dressed in black, sitting 
on a stone seat near the wall, and so hidden by ivy and 
weeds that they might have passed him unseen but for 
the cry that escaped him. Probably they had startled him 
by their sudden appearance. 

Miss Hogg was passing on without a second look when 
Katy pulled her sleeve and whispered to her, ^^Look. It ’s 
Walgrave; is he after us again?” 

Miss Hogg stopped short and looked back; she recog- 
nized Walgrave, looking older; he saw her looking back, 
and rising, he raised his hat, saying, ^^Miss Hogg, don’t 
think IVe copie here to watch you; I am no longer a 


356 


MISS HOGG 


detective; as I could not remain on the force with honor 
I \e resigned. I could not hunt you down ; so that your 
meeting me to-day is only chance^ and quite as much un- 
expected by me as by you;^^ and he seated himself again. 

Miss Hogg would have passed on without a word, but 
that Katy said, ^^Mamie, do say a word to him; he looks 
so unhappy.""^ 

So she turned round again and said, believe you, 
Mr. Walgrave, and I am sorry for the way I treated you.^^ 
He bowed and she walked away. 

^^How strange,^^ said Kat}^, ^^that we should have met 
W algrave in so retired a spot ! And he said that he 
was n’t there to spy on us ; do you believe him, Mamie ?” 

‘^^Yes, I do ; there was truth in his voice. And to think 
that he has given up the detective work all through 
me !” 

^^Well, Mamie, he loved you so that he could not 
hunt you down; for he knows as well as we do that you 
took the child, and he is too honorable to accept pay for 
services that he cannot perform, so he has retired. If he 
had not done so we should have been found out by this 
time, and I think if you had married him he would have 
coaxed you to give her up ; don’t you think so ?” 

^^Perhaps you ’re right, Katy, but what makes you feel 
so for him ?” 

^^Well, Mamie, I know what love is, and I pity him; 
when your time comes you will feel as I do.” 

^^It ’s a long time coming, that ’s all I can say. Love 
must be a very strange thing to have made such a change 
in Walgrave.” 

They left the abbey with their minds full of Walgrave, 
and some days later they left Southampton for London. 
The day after their arrival there Miss Hogg declared that 
she must send for Lawyer Bridgewell to arrange with him 
to forward the countess’s letters to her. 

^^But surely, Mamie, you are not going to put us all 
in the power of that man ! Do you think he will forward 
the countess’s letters without opening them ? He will guess 
that they concern the child ; he won’t scruple to open them, 
and will at once notify Lord Montgomery, and so secure 
the reward.” 

^^You may be right, Katy, but when she pked me 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


357 

for an address I could think of no one else in London; 
I never thought of his opening the letters. I will write 
to her and saj that having met some friends who are 
going to America I am going with them, and that she can 

address her letters to their house at No. Clinton 

avenue, Brooklyn, care of Mrs. Martin; and of course 
they will be safe in her hands, for she is as much interested 
in the matter as we are; and even if the countess should 
suspect that there is a mystery she won’t guess the truth, 
and as she is well paid for looking after Lady Florence 
she will not be likely to betray us as a lawyer would. Be- 
sides, she is a real lady, and would never do a mean 
action. Of course if she knew how matters stood she 
would n’t help us, but who is to tell her ? She seldom 
sees anyone.” 

Miss Hogg wrote to the countess and more than once 
called herself a fool for having given her the lawyer’s 
address. What had become of her cuteness? Was she 
getting dull for want of practice? It would do her good 
to have Mathew watching her again; it would stimulate 
her brains. 

Miss Hogg had received letters from her mother from 
time to time telling her how she missed Isabelle, and in 
the last one she had asked her to bring her back. She 
replied that she felt very sorry for her mother, but that 
she thought it a pity to take her away from school where 
she was getting along so well. Katy agreed with her 
mistress, but she thought that they themselves had better 
return to America soon as there was nothing to keep them 
in England; it was dull there, and she didn’t enjoy it at 
all. Mamie agreed with her that it had been tame com- 
pared with their former visit. 

‘^W'ell,” said Katy, laughing, ^Ve couldn’t expect to 
steal a child every time we come here ; it would come rather 
expensive at the rate of the first one.” 

^^Yes,” replied Mamie, ^^but you forget that I got 
four thousands pounds from Lady Montgomery; it will 
partly pay for the outlay; though I am not spending that 
money; I mean that for Isabelle de Courtney, for should 
ma not make a will the child would get nothing.” 

^^But you would look after her, Mamie.” 

^^Yes, of course ; but I may die before ma,” 't 


358 


MISS HOGG 


‘^^Don’t talk like that ; you make my blood run cold ; you 
so young and strong/^ 

^‘^Well, let get ready to go and cheer ma up. We had 
better go shopping. You buy what you want for Jerry 
and his mother; myself^ am going to buy Jerry a good 
hunting watch.^^ 

^^How good you are, Mamie said Katy, overjoyed 
at the prospect of returning to her husband. 

Two weeks later they were in New York. Mrs. Hogg 
was greatly disappointed that the child had not returned, 
and when her daughter saw how unhappy she looked she 
was sorry she had not brought her back. She tried to 
console her by telling her how advantageous it was to Isa- 
belle, and how the time would soon pass away. Her 
father was very glad to see her and asked if another 
Walgrave was coming to visit her. 

^^No, pa,^'’ she laughed, really think I am going to 
be an old maid.^^ 

^^Well, it will be your own fault if you do,^^ he replied. 


A^kliiRiCAK- HEIRESS 


359 


CHAPTER LIII. 

A FEW days after this Miss Hogg surprised her mother 
by asking about her grandfather and grandmother, and 
why they never came to see them. 

^^Well, my dear, your father does nT like them, for 
they are plain folks. I used to make them a visit now 
and then when I was first married. You must remember 
when you were about ten or eleven years old I went to 
the country for a month all alone, leaving you with your 
father and the servants in our house in Clinton avenue — 
we had not yet bought this one. That was the last time 
I ever saw them, and it is very wrong of me to have 
kept away from them for so long, but it is often the case. 
AVhen a girl marries she misses her people terribly at first, 
and her husband is jealous of her love for them; to please 
him she seldom goes to see them; by and by other ties 
come; parents and daughter correspond for a little while, 
when even that stops, especially if they are poorer than the 
man the daughter has married. It is not the old people 
who cease writing, but the young ones, who seem fo forget 
all they owe to their parents. I feel my heart warming 
towards my people, and I wish I could see them once 
more. It is now five years since I received a letter from 
mv mother, and I am ashamed to say that I never answered 

^^0, ma, why didnT you?’^ 

would have done so but for your father, who said 
that if I did we would have the whole gang after us. 
Those were his words; for my mother had asked if, 
situated as your father was, he could not find a good 
position for your cousin Tom, my brother’s son.” 

^^Tom,” said Mamie, with a start, remembering her 
dream at the Temperance Hotel the night she planned 
the revenge with Katy. 

^^Yes, Mamie, your cousin Tom is just three years 
older than you are ; then comes Mary, about your own age ; 
then Julia, who is nearly twenty, and Johnny, sixteen. 


MISS HOGd 


360 

Those are the children of my eldest brother, Tom Russell, 
and his wife Mary Brooks. They all live at the old home 
with father and mother, as far as I know, unless some of 
the children have married and left.^^ 

^^But, ma, you have other brothers and sisters, have 
you not?^^ 

^^Yes, dear; but they are settled elsewhere, and are 
married and pretty comfortable, they told me at home, but 
not rich, as your father is, and they never write, knowing 
that your father does nT care about them ; they have a 
great deal of honest pride and will not push themselves 
where they are not welcome. I felt it very much at the 
beginning, but it was no use discussing it with your father, 
so I resigned myself. Your father has been kind to me, 
he is a good provider, and he loves you very much, so 
I have no right to complain; it might have been worse. 
I donT understand how I came to tell you all this. I 
suppose my own loneliness made me think they must have 
felt my departure and neglect.'’^ Tears ran down her 
cheeks. 

Her daughter threw her arms round her and said: 
^^DonT fret, ma; you are not yourself lately; you are 
lonely without Isabelle. What do you say to our taking 
a trip out west to see your people? How old are your 
father &d mother 

^^Let me see,^^ said Mrs. Hogg; ‘^hny mother was twenty- 
four when I was born ; when you were born I was twenty- 
one, and you are now twenty-five.^^ 

^^0, look here, ma, don’t you go and count in that way 
before strangers,” said Mamie, laughing ; ^fit ’s all very 
well between us, you know, but it won’t do to tell every- 
body that I ’m an old maid.” 

^^You’ll never look old, Mamie dear; you don’t change 
at all; no one would take you to be over twenty-two at 
most; but you have made me forget.” 

She began to count on her fingers, and said that her 
mother was seventy years old and her father seventy-six. 

^^Well, we must go and see them ; they will be so pleased 
to have you back for a month or two, and I want to see 
them mvself. I ’ll manage pa, and we must take them 
lots of things from 'New Y"ork. 0, my heart, they’ll be 
surprised !” 


THE A?,rEiaCAX HEIRESS 


361 


Miss Hogg was pleased to see her mother smile and 
enter heart and soul into her plans, and the hope of seeing 
her own people once more made her look five years 
younger. They would not take any servants with them, 
for fear they might bring back tales that would offend 
Mr. Hogg, and no one but himself would know where they 
were going. All this being agreed upon, they both felt 
more cheerful. Miss Hogg longed to see her mother’s 
people, and especially cousin Tom, of whom she had dreamed 
before she knew of his existence. It was certainly very 
strange, to say the least; so she set about coaxing her 
father, who was thunderstruck when she dirst mentioned 
the subject to him, and blamed his wife. But Mamie told 
him that it was her own idea; she had been questioning 
her mother about her grandparents. He wouldn’t hear 
of it at first; but after three days, in which Miss Hogg 
gave him no peace, he gave in with the understanding 
that they would n’t bring any of the gang back with them. 

Poor Miss Hogg ! She little dreamed that this journey 
would change the whole course of her life, and that she 
would not bring back as much as she was taking away with 
her. 

Quiet preparations were made; Mrs. and Miss Hogg 
went out shopping together, and mysterious parcels came 
to the house. Mrs. Hogg was as enthusiastic as a young 
girl; she felt so much pleasure in buying things for her 
people; all the old love seemed to have returned, and 
she wondered more than once how she could have stayed 
away from them so long. She hoped that they were still 
alive, for it was so long since she had heard of them; 
still, surely, had any of them died some member of the 
family would have written to apprise her of it. Yet, did 
she deserve it, she not having answered her mother’s last 
kind letter? She began to fret again, and when she 
boarded the train it was with a mixture of joy and fear 
painful to witness. Miss Hogg was all excitement, and 
she cheered her mother by telling her what they would say 
and do, and how the old people would laugh with joy at 
seeing her once more in the old home. And what would 
they think of her whom they had never seen? 

" 0 , my heart, but won’t they be surprised; and to see 
80 many boxes too!” 


362 


MISS HOGG 


Mamie dear, we will leave the boxes at the station, 
and go first and see how they all are; then my brother 
Tom can go for the boxes the next day. It woiTt surprise 
them so much if they see us come on foot as it would 
if we rode up in a carriage followed by a van full of 
trunks. You must remember that they are old people 
and that we must be careful not to give them a shock.^^ 

^^True, ma ; I hn such a fool that I never thought of it.^^ 

^^Well, you are young and strong, my dear, and you 
think that others can bear a surprise as well as you 
would.^^ 

On arriving, at their destination they left their luggage 
in the care of the station master and walked on toward the 
old homestead. Everything was changed since Mrs. Hogg 
had visited her parents nearly fifteen years ago. The 
village was now a small town ; the lanes had become streets ; 
the hedges and trees had disappeared to make room for 
fine houses and shops, and the tavern was now a hotel 
with pleasure grounds and summerhouses here and there, 
where a lot of people were having a good time, it being 
summer. 

Mrs. Hogg hardly knew her way; everything seemed 
strange to her. After walking about a mile she began 
to look for the gate that led to her old home, but the old 
gate seemed to have disappeared, and she stood still looking 
about, thinking that she must have made a mistake. Turn- 
ing to Mamie, she said, ^^Well, my dear, I think the gate 
ought to be here, but here^s a high wall instead; there 
were only hedges in my time, and no walls. Perhaps the 
place has been sold ; we shall have to ask. There are some 
people working in the field yonder, but we canT call them 
for they are too far away.^^ 

Miss Hogg laughed as the thought came to her that she 
had asked Lord Montgomery to whistle to his mother, who 
was almost as far away as those people were. 

^^Why, Mamie, what is there to laugh about ? I assure 
you that I am distressed, for I know my parents so well 
that I am sure they would never have sold the old place 
where they were born.^^ 

^^Well, ma, I wasn’t laughing at that, but at what 
you would think if I were to whistle to those people, J 
call do it ever so well,” 


!rHE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


363 


‘‘^Mamie, Mamie, how yon * shock me ! What wonld 
they think of you? and what would my people say if it 
ever came to their ears? for they are quite English, and 
I have heard them say more than once that a hen that 
crows and a woman that whistles ought to be destroyed. 
But here comes a gentleman; he seems in a hurry too, 
judging by his walk; let us ask him the way to grand- 
pa's.’^ 

As the gentleman passed he raised his hat, seeing 
that they were strangers — which is the English and French 
fashion — and would have passed on, but Mrs. Hogg stopped 
him by saying, ^^Sir, can you inform us where Farmer 
Hussell lives?" 

^^Certainly, madam ; I am going there myself, and will 
gladly accompany you there ;" and for a moment he 
looked hard at the ladies and then exclaimed, ^^Why, it 's 
Aunt Sophy! Don't you know me, Tom Eussell, your 
nephew?" and in a moment he had taken her hand and 
given her a hearty kiss. 

course it is Tom, but how changed ! Why, I should 
never have known you." 

^^Well, Aunt Sophy, fourteen years change a boy into 
a man. And this young lady, if I guess right, must be my 
cousin Mamie, whom I have heard of but never seen." 

^^Yes, Tom, you 're right." 

Mamie had been looking at him while he had been 
speaking to her mother, and she thought that she had never 
seen so handsome a man in Hew York. He looked quite 
English, with his fair complexion, blond hair and 
mustaches, and English ways. How nicely he had lifted 
his hat to them, though he had believed them to be 
strangers I He was tall and slight, and he had the finest 
blue eyes she had ever seen; as they met her dark ones 
his flashed, and she felt the color rise to her cheeks ; he had 
taken her hand and had seemed on the point of kissing 
her as he had her mother, but after their eyes had met 
he only pressed her hand and said how pleased he was 
to have met her. can return the compliment," she 
had replied, and they walked on, Mrs. Hogg inquiring 
about every one at home. She was rejoiced to learn that 
they were all in good health. Tom asked about his 
uncle, whom he had never seen, but did not discuss him, 


364 MISS noaa 

to the great relief of his .aunt, who felt ashamed of hls 
behavior toward her family. 

Mrs. Hogg was very tired. Tom saw it, and taking her 
hand he placed it on his arm to help her, and asked her why 
she had nT taken a cab at the station. ^^All the cabmen 
know where Farmer Eussell lives. 

^^We ought to have done so, but I was afraid of giving 
my parents a shock by coming upon them too suddenly, 
and I thought I knew my way to the old home ; but every- 
thing is so changed that I did nT know what to do, when 
you came upon us so opportunely. But where are you 
going, Tom?^^ she added, as Tom stopped at a fine, large 
gate, and opening it, passed in, saying, as he turned to 
his cousin: 

^‘^Welcome to Eussell farm, dear Mamie; this is your 
first visit, but I hope and trust it may not be your last.^^ 

^^Thank you, cousin Tom, for your kind welcome; I 
will try to deserve it.^^ 

^^And this is really the old house said Mrs. Hogg; 
^That high wall instead of the hedge and trees where we 
used to go nesting, and this wide, beautifully graveled 
avenue, where we only had a cart track. But here is an 
old friend of mine still left,’^ as she pointed to an immense 
apple tree with a garden seat against it. 

Yes, xiunt Sophy ; and you will see many more as you 
near the house. But I was thinking that perhaps it would 
be best if you sat down on this old seat in the shade to 
rest and brace up for the meeting with the old people while 
Mamie and I go to prepare them.^^ 

^^You Ye right, Tom ; they donY know Mamie, so she 
canY give them a shock.^^ 

She sat down and thought of her young days and the 
fun she had had with the other children under this 
very apple tree. As for Mamie, she had picked up three 
or four large, red apples and was busy eating one of them 
as her cousin turned toward her and said, laughingly, 
^^Take my arm, cousin Mamie, we are going to have fun.^^ 
She did so. They marched down the avenue and soon came 
in sight of a large, old-fashioned farmhouse, with rather 
small windows and a thatched roof, English fashion. 
Tn front of the house was a flower garden with graveled 
vv^alks; climbing rose vines, nearly reaching the upper 


Mi! AMiiRtCAljT Hi!lRES3 36S 

windows^ were very effective, as they were in bloom; the 
porch was covered with clematis as white as snow. 

‘^‘0, what a grand old place V’ exclaimed Mamie. 

am glad you like it/^ replied Tom, looking atten- 
tively at her. 

‘‘And look, Tom ; there ^s some one looking at us from 
the open window — a lady — who i^ she 

“Sly sister Mary; and see, she has beckoned to some 
one in the room — my other sister, Julia, and also my 
young brother John; they are looking at us very hard.^^ 
Tom laughed, and as Mamie looked at him she saw 
that he looked mischievous, and wondered why. 

Let us leave the young people to reach the house by 
themselves, and enter the room where Mary had been 
standing at the window watching for Tom, who was later 
than usual ; and when he came in sight with a lady on his 
arm her surprise was great and she had called Julia and 
John to come and look. “Who can the lady be said Julia ; 
“they seem very friendly, and I have never before seen 
Tom with a lady on his arm, have you?^^ 

“No,^^ answered Mary; “I wonder if he has eloped with 
her, married her, and brought her home; it would be too 
bad, for I wanted to be bridesmaid.^^ 

“And so did said Julia. 

“0, you girls are always thinking of marriage. Tom 
would nT be such a fool ; is nT he all right without getting 
married 

“Well, Mr. Wiseman,^^ said Mary, “perhaps you ^11 
tell us who the lady is.^^ 

“Well, she ^s some one.^^ 

“Of course she ^s some one,^^ said Julia; “but here 
they are ; how friendly they seem !’^ as they saw Tom and 
Mamie disappear in the porch; but they soon came into the 
living room where the young people were. Tom walked 
right into the middle of the room with Mamie still on 
his arm, and said, “I have brought this young lady to intro- 
duce her to you, but first I want you to guess who she is.^^ 
“0, I know,^’ said Mary; “you have been stealing a 
march on us; it ^s a shame, for I wanted to be bridesmaid; 
she 's your wife, I can see that.^^ 

^famie started and blushed. Tom laughed merrily and 
Mamie soon joined him. 


366 


MISS noca 


said Tom, ^^are you satisfied with my choice 
am/'’ said Julia, giving Mamie a kiss, which she 
returned. 

^^And so am 1/^ said Mary, also kissing Mamie. 

^^And you, John, why do you keep in the background 
when every one else comes to the front 

^^Because I know that you ^re fooling the girls ; you ^d 
never marry on the sly; what would the old folks say 
to it?^^ 

^^0, well, we dl soon see for ourselves, for we ^re going 
to them. Come, Mamie,^^ said Tom, and they all followed 
to see the denouement. When in the hall he asked, 
^^Where ^s grandfather T’ 

^Tn the back garden/^ said Mary. 

^^Well, you run and fetch him, but mind you donT tell 
him I ^m married, whatever you do.'’^ 

wonT, Tom, for I begin to think, like John, that 
you ^re playing us a trick.^^ 

^^And where ^s grandmother — in the parlor 
^^iSTo, in her room, trying on her new cap.^^ 

^AVell, Julia, you go up and help her with it, and 
bring her down, and not a word to her either ; let me man- 
age my own affairs. And you, John, show the way to the 
parlor to my Mamie, while I go to mother in the kitchen/^ 
and he went towards the back of the house. Mamie called 
him back and told him not to say that she was his wife ; he 
laughed and said, ^^i^ll right.'’^ 

John stood, not knowing what to do, until Mamie re- 
minded him that he was to show her the way to the sitting 
room, which he did. He asked her to remove her hat and 
coat, and whether she was going to stay or going back soon. 
She said she would stay if she was not turned out, and 
asked him if he wished her to stay. 

^^Yes, I do, for you seem a jolly girl, not a milksop.'’^ 
^AVell, that ^s very nice of you, John, and as you mean it 
as a compliment 1 will take it as such; I think you and I 
will get along well together, donT you?^^ 

^^Yes, Mamie. May I call you Mamie?” 

^^Yes, I want you all to call me Mamie.” 

^^Well, tell me, Mamie, are you married to Tom?” 

She could n’t help laughing, but said, ^^You want to 
know too much ; I canT interfere with Tom^s plans ; you ’ll 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 367 

know presentl 3 ^ But, even if 1 ’m. not Tom’s v/ife yon 
must like me ; will you promise ?” 

^T will/’ said the boy, in a gentlemanly way ; and Miss 
Hogg thought how could pa say that they were fools and 
unfit to mix in good society ? Why, as far as she had seen, 
their manners were far superior to those of her own family, 
when she remembered what coarse language she used her- 
self before she had gone traveling, and even now she some- 
times forgot herself and used slang that would shock these 
quiet country people. She longed to see the old people and 
hoped they would like her. 

Tom had gone to the kitchen, where his mother was as- 
sisting in preparing the supper, and, calling her aside, he 
told her that Aunt Sophy had come, and, fearing to sur- 
prise her, she had stayed outside, and was sitting on the 
old bench under the apple tree in the avenue. ^^You go to 
her while I prepare grandmother and grandfather. I ’ve 
brought Mamie, my cousin, into the house ; the girls think 
she ’s my wife and I ’ve allowed them to think so. Mamie ’s 
a fine girl, I can tell you.” 

^Ts she?” said his mother, mischievously. ^AYell, I ’m 
glad they ’ve come, and so v/ill be your father and the old 
folks too,” and she went out to bring in Sophy, while Tom 
went to the parlor, where he found the two old people, his 
two sisters, and John awaiting his arrival. 

The old gentleman, who was tall and noble looking, 
said, ^^What ’s all this mystery, Tom ? Have you at last 
made up your mind to get married and brought the young 
lady for our approval ? If so, my boy, speaking for myself, 
I am very well pleased,” and he kissed Mamie on the fore- 
head. 

But she threw her arm around his neck and gave him 
a hearty kiss, saying, ‘^^Dear grandpa, I ’m so glad you like 
me.” 

Tom laughed loud and long at the puzzled look on the 
faces of his sisters and brother. 

The old lady, who had been a pretty blonde in her time, 
and who was still very good looking, came next, and said, 
^^Well, my dear, if Tom has been a long time choosing a 
wife at least he has chosen well ; you are a fine girl, and 
seem to take to us as if you belonged to the family/^ 

(io belong to the family, dear grandma^/^ said Mamie^ 


368 


MISS HOGG 


and kissed her tenderly, for she felt that they were good 
people to take her to their hearts at so short a notice ; surely 
blood was speaking ; she innst have some of the blood of the 
Eussells as well as that of the Hoggs ; and, turning to Tom, 
who was still laughing, she said, ‘^Look here, Tom, I won’t 
have them mystified any longer/^ 

Seeing her grandmother seated on the large sofa, she 
went and sat by her and took her hand; then inviting her 
grandfather to sit on the other side she took his hand too, 
and said, ^^JSlow you must be very calm and not surprised at 
all; do you promise? I am going to tell you something 
that I believe will please you: I am Mamie Hogg, and I 
have come to make you a visit/^ 

^^And how ^s your mother, my dear said the old man ; 
^^not dead, for you ^re not in mourning/^ 

^^No, grandpa ; would you have liked her to come too?’^ 

^^Certainly,^^ they both exclaimed at the same time ; ^ Vhy 
did n’t she?” 

^AVelh she has,” said Tom; ^%nd she’s now in the 
kitchen with mother ; I ’ll go and fetch her. But was n’t 
it a good trick of mine to make you all believe that Mamie 
was lily wife, or at least had come to be approved of? Ha, 
ha, ha ! but that was grand !” and he ran out of the room, 
his two sisters after him, thumping him in the back for 
having made fools of them, which treatment made him en- 
ter the kitchen in such a hurry as to nearly upset his father, 
who stood against the door talking to his sister. 

^^Why, Tom,” said his mother, ^^you are acting like a 
boy, — you, usually so sedate !” 

^^Well, mother, the girls are nearly murdering me be- 
cause I made them believe that Mamie was my wife ; and it 
was they who pushed me into the kitchen with such force 
as to nearly knock down the governor.” 

‘^^Did you really play that trick on them?” said his 
father, laughing. 

^‘^Yes,” answered Tom, ^^and the old people thought she 
was a young lady I had brought for their approval.” 

^^And did they appiwe?” 

^^Yes ; and when she called them grandpa and grandma 
I thought I should go into a fit to see Mary, Julia, and 
even John. 0, It was too good for anything!” And 
pyen Mrs, Hogg laughed merrily at her nephew’s 


THE AMERICAN- HEIRESS 


369 


Aunt Sophy, I have been sent to fetch you; the 
old people long to see you/^ 

"^And we long to see Mamie/^ said his father and 
mother. 

^^The idea of Tom smuggling her into the house with- 
out telling me/^ said his mother. 

So they all went in together, and the old people cried 
over Mrs. Hogg and made her feel sorry for having neg- 
lected them for so many years; but at last the tears gave 
way to smiles and they all felt happy; the fifteen years 
seemed to have been bridged over for the old people. To 
the young folks, who had never before seen one another, it 
v/as easier to be merry, for there was nothing to throw a 
siiadow over the present, and Mamie felt like one of them- 
selves. 

The next day she was taken all over the farm, and Tom 
was delighted when she said she could ride, but that gave 
him no idea of what a fine horsewoman she really was, nor 
of her strength and daring. His sisters rode well, but were 
timid about leaping a gate or a hedge, nor did they deem it 
seemly for a lady; but Tom was a dare-devil, and admired 
pluck in a woman. Well, he would be pleased with his 
cousin, for she dared more than he. 

While the young people were enjoying themselves the 
older ones were talking over old times. Mrs. Hogg did n^t 
like to ask what Tom was doing, though she could see that 
he was not a farmer, for she could never forget the letter 
sent her by her mother about him ; but her father, as if he 
had been reading her thoughts, said, ^^Tom is not a farmer, 
and he will not take his father’s place as the Eussells have 
always done from father to son; he has become a lawyer, 
and, young as he is, he has pretty good practice in Jefferson 
City; he might make more money in a larger place, but we 
could n’t spare him ; he is the life of our home.” 

Mrs. Hogg had flushed painfully at her father’s men- 
tion of a great city. The old man continued : ^Mohn is a 
good boy, and will also stay home ; he will take his father’s 
place as your brother Tom took mine when I became too 
old to work, and I must say that he has greatly improved 
the place, and you must have noticed it on your way here, 
Sophy.” ' ‘ ■ 


370 


MISS HOGG 


^^1 did, father, and could not find my way to iny old 
home; happily we met Tom, who brought us here/^ 

^^.Did 3 ^ou know Tom T' asked her mother, surprised. 

^^ISTo, mother, but he knew me.^^ 

Tom had to go to business, but promised to be back as 
soon as possible; he told John to show Mamie the horses 
and let her have her pick of them, as he would ride with her 
on his return if she was willing. 

^^Yes, Tom,^^ said Mamie, who had heard him, fil 
ride with you, but I won’t race to-day; we can take the 
country roads, see the neighborhood, and at the same time 
select the place for this race that is to cover us with lau- 
rels.’’ 

^^No, fair cousin,” said Tom, ^^you will win the laurels, 
not I.” 

^^Come now, Tom, you know you don’t mean it; I see 
that by your eyes, which are full of mischief ; but I ’ll do 
my best, you may depend upon it.” 

Her fine black eyes flashed with courage and determi- 
nation and Tom thought, ^^What a fine woman my cousin 
is ! I will not allow her to break her neck ; she looks as 
though she would follow where I lead.” 

They parted at the gate ; he smiled, and, raising his hat, 
hurried to catch the train for Jefferson City, leaving Mamie 
and J ohn, who had walked with him up the avenue, looking 
after him. Mamie seemed lost in thought, and when John 
said ‘^‘^Don’t you think that Tom is handsome ?” she started 
and blushed ; then said, think you are all good looking, 
and grandma and grandpa the best looking of all.” 

^^So they are,” said John, ^^and the best of all. Now 
come and see the horses, cousin Mamie.” 

They went to the stables, where there were many farm 
liorses — all but three, in fact — and John would not tell 
her to whom they belonged, for Tom had said that she was 
to choose, and if he told her which Tom’s was he was sure 
she would not take that ; he said that all three would carry 
a lady. 

^^But don’t you see, you bad boy, that if I happen to 
choose Tom’s he won’t care to ride another, while I don’t 
care which I ride; they are all alike to me. Do tell me, 
John.” 

But John stood with his hands in his pockets deter" 


AMERtCAlr fiEIRRSS 37l 

mined not to tell. He said, ^^Yon can^t call it choosing if 
I tell yon, and I won’t if you keep me here all day.” 

^^All right; I am going to choose;” and she chose the 
black one because there seemed to be plenty of go in him, 
and it was just what she wanted. 

^^Now, John, 1 have chosen the black one; is it Tom’s? 
You must tell me.” 

^Tt is not Tom’s, but father’s horse. Black Prince.” 

^^Well, he’s a fine horse,” said Mamie; like him, and 
1 ’m glad that I did n’t choose Tom’s ; which is his ?” 

^^The dark brown one ; and the lighter one is Mar^s; 
she ’ll want you to take that, but don’t do it, he ’s too quiet ; 
he would never follow Tom’s horse, but old Black Prince 
will ; he ’s full of fire, for father seldom rides him ; it will do 
him good to have a gallop. Don’t let Tom beat you ; he ’s a 
splendid rider and brags that he can’t be beat.” 

^^Surely, John, you don’t expect me to beat him; you 
don’t want me to break my neck, do you ?” 

^^No, I want you to beat Tom ; that ’s all.” 

^^All right, John ; I ’ll do my best, but if I come to grief 
it will be your fault. How I want you to do something for 
me. Send one of the men to the railway station with a 
large wagon and bring all our baggage while Tom is away, 
and you and I will arrange all the presents for to-night. 
What do you say ? Can you spare the time ?” 

^^Yes, Mamie, for I still attend school; but as I have a 
two weeks’ holiday I ’ll do all you want me to, for the girls 
can’t help you much ; they have their work to do ; we only 
keep two maid servants for the house, and there ’s a lot to 
do with the cooking for more than fifteen people, for we 
have five, and sometimes six, men helping on IJie farm and 
they all eat at our house ; then there ’s butter-making twice 
a week, and that ’s no joke, for we have twenty-five cows. 
The men milk the cows. Then we make cheese English 
fashion, and though we have been in America for some 
generations we keep the old ways and are still quite Eng- 
lish.” 

^^Yes, I noticed that,” replied Mamie. ^^As soon as I 
saw Tom I said to myself, This is an Englishman.’ I 
have been to England several times, and I could tell at a 
glance.” 

^Tes, and he is very proud of looking like one; but I 


MISS Hoaa 


m 

shall have to leave you, for I mean to go for your trunks 
myself/" 

"^^But, John, can you drive?"" 

^^Can I drive? Well I should think so; I could drive 
when I was ten years old/" 

^^All right, John, good-by; I "m going to see them make 
the butter/" 

So Mamie went all over the farm^ making herself quite 
at home, never getting in anybody"s way, and she soon be- 
came a favorite with every one. 

At first Mary and Julia feared that she would look 
down upon them for making the butter and cheese and 
helping in the kitchen; but she soon undeceived them by 
asking Mary to let her churn while she looked after the 
dinner. 

^‘^But you "11 never be able to do it,"" said Mary ; ^^you "re 
not used to work."" 

^^Well, I should smile,"" said Mamie; ^^do you mean to 
say that I can"t turn that handle as v/ell as you ? I "11 bet 
I "11 turn it easier than you ; look here."" And taking hold 
of the handle, she began to turn it with a will, and she 
laughingly said, hope the top of the box is well fastened 
or I "11 have the butter up to the ceiling in a jiffy."" 

Mary laughed, admired her cousin"s great strength, and, 
assuring her that the top of the box was quite secure, she 
left her, to go and see after the dinner. In less than three 
quarters of an hour Mamie went into the kitchen, saying, 
^^You "d better come and see about the butter; I can"t turn 
the wheel half so easy ; it seems to bring a great weight up ; 
then all of a sudden it drops down as if falling in water. 
I do hope I,haven"t spoiled the cream."" 

"No, Mamie, but the butter must be made; I must go 
and see presently. How quick you have been about it ! It 
generally takes me and Julia a whole hour, and we relieve 
each other, for it "s hard work, and you "ve done it all 
alone ; won"t Tom be surprised ? But you look tired ; it "s 
a shame for me to have allowed you to do it. What will 
Aunt Sophy say when she hears of it ?"" 

"Here she is, ask her said Mamie, as her mother came 
into the kitchen with Mrs. Eussell. 

"What have you been up to, Mamie?"" 


(THJB) AMERICAK HEiRfiSS 373 

‘'‘0, IVe been making the butter, ma. What do you 
think of that?'^ 

^^Well, I must say that I ^m surprised, my dear. 1 
often made the butter in my young days, and I ^m glad 
you Ve tried your hand at it/^ 

And Mrs. Eussell, patting her on the cheek, said, ^^You 
have plenty of Eussell blood in you, my dear; it won't 
hurt you to learn to make butter and to cook.^^ 

John returned with the trunks and uncorded them. 
After dinner, and when Mary and Julia had finished their 
work, they all went to see the contents of the trunks. 
There were presents for each member of the family — slip- 
pers, dressing-gowns, and silk handkerchiefs for grandpa 
and grandma; for Mr. Eussell, Jr., an umbrella, a box of 
scarfs, two scarf-pins — one, a diamond solitaire, the other, 
a ruby; for Mrs. Eussell, black satin and cashmere for 
dresses, a diamond breastpin, a box of gloves, and a box of 
cambric handkerchiefs. Julia and Mary had exclaimed 
more than once, ^^0, how lovely, how grand John was 
also looking on admiringly, wondering if there was any- 
thing for him. And Miss Hogg said, smiling : 

^^Ladies first, you know, John.^^ 

^^0, it ^s all right Mamie ; I don^t want anything f and 
he drew back ashamed of having been caught looking. 

The girls^ turn came next. The trunk was nearly full 
of black silk, gray silk, woolen goods, white and colored 
lace, ribbons, gloves and handkerchiefs, perfumes, and a 
pair of diamond earrings apiece. 

^^0, Mamie, you ought not to have brought all these 
grand things for us ; we are only a farmer’s daughters, you 
know,’’ said they. 

^‘^Well, even so,” said Mamie ; ^There ’s nothing here that 
the daughters of a well-to-do farmer may not wear.” 

She was rewarded with a hearty kiss. John said she 
was a trump. 

^^Thank you, J ohn ; I hope you ’ll be pleased with what 
I ’ve brought you ; open that small box carefully.” 

He did so, and found a gold watch and chain. His 
eyes sparkled with pleasure as he said, ^^0, Mamie, you and 
Aunt Sophy are regular bricks !” 

^^How for Tom,” said Mamie; and opening another box 
she brought out a silver mounted case, an opera glass, a seal 


MISS nom 


3n 

ring, a riding whip, a ruby scarf pin, and a hot of scarfs. 
^^There, that 's all,"^ said she. there ’s a box of scarfs 

also for John ; I must have overlooked it. 0, here it is ; you 
will also find a pin in the top one. Now this last trunk I ""m 
not going to open, for I am tired. I fil tell you what ^s in 
it: mamma bought a dinner and tea set for Aunt Mary. 
Now let us arrange everything in order, and to-night when 
everybody’s at home, say after supper, you, J ohn, bring the 
things in to each one as I have told you.” 

Then they all went out in the avenue and met Tom at 
the gate just coming in, who said, ^AVhy, Mamie, you ’re 
not dressed for our ride ; how ’s that ? And I ’ve been 
liurrying to get back.” 

^^Never mind, cousin Tom, I won’t go to-day; I ’m too 
tired.” 

^^Too tired,” said Tom; ^Vhy, what have you been do- 
ing to tire you? Has John been taking you about the 
farm ?” 

^^That ’s not what ’s to blame for her being tired,” 
snapped J ohn ; ^fit ’s the girls ; they ’ve been getting her to 
churn the butter.” 

Tom looked at Mamie and she felt the color mount to 
her cheeks, and he hastened to say, ’m so glad, cousin 
Mamie, that you ’re one of ourselves, but you should not 
have tried to churn the butter, for it ’s too hard work even 
for those who are used to it.” 

H’m all right,” said Mamie; enjoyed making the 
butter. It is not that that has tired me, and John knows 
it. I have chosen a horse; guess which one.” 

hope it is mine ; if it is you are welcome to it.” 

^^No, it is n’t, and I ’m glad of it.” 

^AVell, which one is it? Don’t keep us in suspense.” 

Ht ’s Uncle Tom’s old Black Prince.” 

^^0, Mamie, don’t ride that horse !” cried Mary and 
Julia together; ^^he’ll throw you, he’s so fresh; it’s as 
much as papa can do to manage him.” 

^^Do take mine,” said Mary, ^^he ’s so quiet.” 

think Mary ’s right,” said Tom, uneasily; ^^or, if you 
prefer mine take it, dear Mamie.” 

It was the first time that Tom had called her dear, and 
it gave her a shock ; her heart stood still for a moment ; she 
felt a kind of pain and pleasure intermixed. What could 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


375 

it be ? She had never felt so in all her life. She had not 
answered and was not even thinking about the horses. 
Tom looked at his cousin with a soft look in his large blue 
eyes, and he continued, ^^YouTl have mine, won't you, 
Mamie ? and I 'll take father's." 

Mamie awoke from her reverie, and met Tom's eyes for 
a moment, and it burst on her like a flash that she loved her 
cousin Tom. The joy of the moment was great, for she 
read love in her cousin's eyes as well as if he had told her in 
words. How she wished she could be alone in her own 
room to enjoy this great discovery! She who had flirted 
with so many men, and had never felt any pity or sympathy 
for any of them, began to understand how they must 
have suffered to have loved and received nothing but mock- 
ery in return. Poor Walgrave, for instance; she had 
wrecked his life, and she felt for him at that moment. Her 
life seemed to have changed suddenly; everything seemed 
bright and beautiful around her, and she knew that if her 
cousin Tom was removed from her surroundings it would 
be all darkness and desolation for her. She was nearly 
twenty-five, and had never loved before. Her love for her 
cousin must be a great and grand passion — for happiness 
or misery. All these thoughts passed through her mind in 
less than a minute. As she tried hard to control her feel- 
ings John came to her rescue by saying, ^^Don't you mind 
them, Mamie ; father's horse is the best, and Tom wants it, 
to beat you." 

Mamie was herself again, and laughingly said, think 
I 'll take John's advice; I like Black Prince." 

Tom admired her courage and promised himself to 
watch over her, for she was becoming very dear to him. 
Had he known her better he would have seen at once that 
she cared for him, for her manner was quiet and reserved 
when she addressed him; but having known her only two 
days, he had no idea of the change that had come over her 
and did not guess that he was dear to her, while Mamie 
knew that the look he had given her was one of true love. 
Women can always tell love from friendship quicker than 
men, and especially women of Miss Hogg's age. 

That evening after supper, as it had been prearranged, 
all the pr^septs were brought to the sitting room^ and when 


37G 


MISS HOGG 


the older people came in they saw the tables and some of the 
chairs covered with miscellaneous articles. 

‘^0^ that^s right, Mainie/^ said her mother; had 
really forgotten all about those things. But before you 
begin to distribute them go to my room, open my largest 
trunlv, and bring me the paper parcel that you will find at 
the top.^^ 

Mamie ran up wondering what it could be, for she 
thought all the presents had been put into the trunks that 
she had already opened. She soon came back with a good- 
sized parcel which felt very soft. 

^‘^Is that what you mean, ma 

^^Yes, my dear f and, cutting the strings, she disclosed 
a large and beautiful fur cloak, which she placed on her 
mother’s shoulders, saying, ^^It just fits you, dear mother, 
do you like it ?” 

The old lady’s face flushed, and she replied, ^Tt is very 
beautiful, Sophy, and I thank you very much for your 
kindness, but still I wish you had not brought it, a« your 
husband does not feel kindly toward us, as all here know, 
or I would not refer to it.” 

^^Well, mother, it is I who am giving it to you.” 

know, dear ; and that only makes it worse, for it has 
been bought with his money.” 

^^Well, look here, grandma,” said Miss Hogg, ^^did n’t 
you spend much more than that cloak is worth to bring up 
ma, and did n’t you give her to my pa for nothing ? Come, 
now, what have you to say? You know you can’t deny it 
and she laughed so heartily that every one joined in at her 
queer way of squaring matters ; even her grandmother, who 
said : 

^^Well, my dear, it would be wrong in me to say a word 
more and spoil your pleasure ; it was my pride that spoke, 
not my heart. The Eussells, though not very rich, had a 
great deal of honest pride.” 

^^That ’s all right, grandma, but you see I have 
proved to you that ma owes a great deal more to you and 
grandpa than she can repay, and I also owe you lots, I 
guess, for such a ma, so I won’t hear another word.” 

And not another word was said by anyone except words 
of thanks and admiration. Mrs. Hogg was seen putting 
something in her father^s hand, and the old gentleman 


THE AMEBICAK HEIBESS 377 

laughingly exposed it to view; it was a gold snuff box. 
‘^Look here/^ he said, ^^Sophy has not forgotten that I 
sometimes take a pinch of snuff on the sly ; it ^s a wonder 
that she has n’t brought me some snuff too.” 

^‘^But I have, father,” said Mrs. Hogg, smilingly, ^^and 
here it is ;” producing a package from the parcel. 

^^Well, let ’s try it ;” and he soon had some in his gold 
box. All the young people had a pinch, and there never 
before was such sneezing and laughing. In fact, they all 
had a grand time that night, and Miss Hogg had never felt 
so happy in all her life. 

The next afternoon she went riding with her cousin 
Tom and Mary, not for the proposed race, but to try Black 
Prince and also to see the neighborhood. When Tom 
helped his cousin to mount her horse he felt that she was 
no ordinary horsewoman and that she would not require 
being looked after, and Black Prince seemed to think the 
same ; he had tried to be frisky as J ohn brought him along, 
but as soon as Mamie had mounted and held the reins he 
became as gentle as a lamb, though his black eyes flashed 
brightly, and he seemed to be in a hurry to be off ; but Miss 
Hogg’s strong hand held him in check. John having 
helped his sister to mount, Tom mounted also, and all three 
went up the avenue at a slow pace, Tom between Miss Hogg 
and his sister. They went through the village, Tom and 
Mary pointing out to their cousin everything that was 
worth seeing; then taking the country road they showed 
her the principal farms, none of which, Mamie said, pleased 
her as much as her grandfather’s. 

^AVell,” said Tom, agree with you there, Mamie, if 
the farm was larger, but we need more ground; now, for 
instance, if we could buy the farm adjoining ours and make 
it into one, we should have the largest and best farm here- 
abouts ; we often speak of it and wish we could buy it, for 
it is for sale; but it can’t be done, as grandfather and 
grandmother will not hear of getting a mortgage on oui 
farm, which is unencumbered at present and has belonged 
to the Bussells for nearly two hundred years. They say 
that it would make the dead rise from their graves were 
they to borrow money on it ; nor will they consent to pur- 
chase the other one unless they have the cash to pay for it : 
and I am always in a fever for fear that the place may be 


MISS HOGG 


378 

sold, which is rather selfish on my part, since we canH buy 
it ourselves, donH you think so, Mamie 

^^Well, no, Tom, it is natural, I think; and I wish you 
could get it as it joins your grounds;^’ and she made up her 
mind to induce her father to buy it so that in time she could 
give it to the old people ; but she did n’t say so ; she only 
asked the price. Tom said they were asking twenty-five 
thousand dollars, but would take less if they could get 
cash — perhaps twenty thousand dollars — and that under 
good management it would bring at least from ten to four- 
teen per cent, and no risk of any bankruptcy; the money 
would be safe ; no one could run away with the land, as 
cashiers did with the money in banks. 

‘^^But all this talk cannot be interesting to you, my dear 
cousin.’^ 

^^Of course not,” said his sister; ^Vhat can cousin 
Mamie care about farms?” 

^^You are very much mistaken, Mary ; I am very much 
interested in this one at least, and must discuss the matter 
with Tom later on ; he, being a lawyer, will give me all the 
information I want. Is the house nice ?” she continued. 

^Well, yes, nice enough, but not as large as ours; I will 
point it out to you on our return.” 

^^Yes, do, Tom. 'Now show me the road where you ex- 
pect to beat me at that famous race that we are to have — 
you and I — for I don’t think that Mary cares to take part 
in it.” 

^^No, indeed, Mamie; and if I were you I would not lis- 
ten to Tom, for I know what he intends to do; there is a 
high gate on the road and he means to leap over it. I 
warn you, Mamie, for he played me that trick long ago; 
then when I would n’t follow he laughed at me and said he 
had won the race ; so don’t trust him.” 

Miss Hogg looked at him, met his soft blue eyes, and 
thought to herself, would trust him with my very life ; 
how handsome he is !” But she only said, ^^0, is that so, 
cousin Tom ? And you ’ll expect me to leap over every- 
thing that comes in my way, and if I don’t I shall lose the 
race ?’^ 

^^Ho, no, Mamie replied Tom, merrily, for he saw a 
great deal of mischief shining in his cousin’s eyes. 
won’t leap over the toll gate if you don’t want me to. I 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


379 


did it with Maiy, for I knew that she would never dare 
follow me, but 1 Avould be afraid to try it with you, for I 
think you would follow at any risk/^ 

Miss Hogg laughed and thought, ^^How well he knows 
me but said, ^^Thank you, Tom, for your good opinion of 
me. Can Prince leap?^^ 

^^Black Prince?’^ said Mary; H should think so; my 
father bought that horse from an English gentleman who 
had no further need of him as he was going to the gold 
mines, and he coaxed father to buy him, as he knew that 
the horse would be in good hands with us; he said the 
horse had no vices, but was high-spirited, and would leap 
over any gate in his way ; that his wife had often mounted 
him and followed the steeple chase and that no harm had 
ever come to her ; but that she was a fine and fearless rider, 
and that he would not advise us young ladies to try him, 
and we never have. Father says that when he has been in 
his stable for a week or more without going out it is as 
much as he can do to manage him, for what he wants is a 
hard gallop at the start; then he tones down. Father 
says that Black Prince is high-spirited and feels happy; 
that ^s all.^^ 

^^Dear old horse,^^ said Miss Hogg, rubbing his neck 
with her whip. The horse tossed up his head proudly as if 
he understood her. ^^There are few horses that I would 
not mount,^^ she continued, ^^still, I must know them, then 
I can be on my guard. I love a high-spirited horse.^^ 

^^How many horses have you, Mamie asked Mary. 
^^Only one that I can call my own, and pa has one, but I 
canT say that either of them equals Black Prince; they are 
not English horses. Then we have two carriage horses.^^ 
^^Well,^^ said Tom, ^^how do you like this road for a 
race ? This is the one I was telling you about.^^ 

^^What, with the toll gate 
/^Yes ; you can see it from here.^^ 

^‘Ho I do ; it will do very well, but don^t you think we 
had better go back? The sun is setting and it will be 
dark before we reach home.^^ 

^^You are right, Mamie; I was forgetting that we have 
more than a five miles^ ride before us;^^ and their horses’ 
heads were turned towards home again. 


380 


MISS HOGG 


^^What do 3^ou think of our sunsets ? You donH see the 
like in JSTew York, hey?^^ 

^^JYo, we never see the sun set or rise either in the busy 
part of N^ew York, but I have seen better at sea — too 
grand for description — and so is the rising of a full moon. 
I have seen lovely sunsets in France and in Southampton, 
but not in London. I never saw the sun set there, and the 
greater part of the day the sun looked a full moon. Still, 
London is a grand and beautiful city. Have you ever been 
there, TomF^ 

^^No, Mamie, but I hope to go some day. I have been 
to Yew York several times.^^ 

^^And why did n’t you come to”— then she stopped and 
her face flushed. She felt ashamed that these people who 
were so kind to her, and whom she had been taught by her 
father to look down upon and to think of as ignorant fools 
not fit to visit them, even now she must not dare to invite 
to her father’s house — she felt humiliated, and hardly 
knew what to say; and Tom, seeing her embarrassment, 
pitied her, for he knew that Mr. Hogg alone was to blame. 
Aunt Sophy had always been nice to them when she had 
made them a visit, and if she had not answered her moth- 
er's letter the blame had been put on her husband by every 
member of the family, and not on her ; so he said, ^^Don’t 
distress yourself, my dear cousin ; I did not call because we 
are proud people and have no wish to force ourselves on 
people richer than we are. If I had called it is likely that 
I would have been well received by your father as well as 
by Aunt Sophy and yourself. Look ; here ’s the farm that 
I ’ve been telling you about ; how do you like it ? The 
house is almost new and quite stylish, is n’t it ?” 

^Tt is, and I like it. It is occupied for I see lights in 
the windows.” 

yes, it would never do to have the place empty, for 
the farm and cattle have to be looked after.” 

The three young people reached home after their pleas- 
ant ride and had much to tell the older ones. 


THE AMEKICAN HEIRESS 


381 


CHAPTEE LIV. 

Weeks passed, and Miss Hogg felt quite at home. She 
went all about the farm, admiring the cows, the calves, 
and the poultry, would help Julia to bring in the eggs, and 
she even tried to milk a cow, but in that she came to grief. 
She had asked Mary if she could milk a cow as the men 
servants were doing. 

^^Yes,^^ replied Mary, ^‘1 can milk, but we never do it; we 
have enough to do in the house.'’^ 

^^WelV^ said Miss Hogg, ^^you must teach me; I must be 
able to say when I return home that I have made butter 
and milked a cow.^^ 

^^Well, you will easily learn, for you are not afraid; 
when do you wish to begin 

^^0, there ^s no time like the present,^^ replied Mamie. 

^^Well, I ^11 get a pail, and an apron, so that you won^t 
spoil your dress and will look more like a milkmaid and 
Mary, enjoying the fun as much as did her cousin, took a 
three legged stool and the pail, and they set forth in quest 
of the most quiet looking cow for Mamie to experiment 
upon and learn the art of milking. Mary selected one, 
then sat on the right side of the cow and began milking in 
her pail. It looked very easy to Mamie, who said, 
don^t need much teaching ; I ^m sure that I can do it as well 
as you.^^ 

^^All right, Mamie, try f and she gave her the pail and 
stool. Mamie walked straight to the left side of the cow. 
Luckily Mary was watching, and she called out, ^^Hot that 
side, Mamie, or she ^11 kick you.^^ 

^^0, does that matter 

^^Certainly ; always go to the right side of the cow.^^ 

^^0, that ’s all right, it makes no difference to me, and I 
don’t think it would make any difference with the cow 
either ; it ’s all your fancy. How can a cow know which is 
her right or left side, I should like to know ?” and she sat on 
the stool, and having set the pail firmly between her knees, 
as she had seen the men do, she caught hold of one of the 


382 


MISS HOGG 


teats, and passing her fingers and thumb over it, pull- 
ing downwards, as Mary had done and had brought out the 
milk so easily, she found she could n't make the milk come 
except in small splashes, and once having turned the teat 
up, it splashed right into her eyes and all over her face, 
nearly blinding her, Mary laughing heartily. 

^^0," thought Mamie, ^^the milk does n't come right be- 
cause I don't pinch the teats hard enough;" and catching 
hold of one of them firmly, she pinched it and pulled on it 
with all her strength, and by so doing hurt the poor cow, 
which gave a kick right into the bucket, upsetting Mamie 
and her stool, and dragging the pail with her, her foot held 
fast inside of it ; it was some time before she got rid of it, 
and poor Mamie was lying on the grass all splashed with 
the milk and quite unable to rise, for the cow was running 
round and round as far as her chain would allow her. 
Mary hurried to the rescue, yet she could not help laugh- 
ing, and Mamie laughed too when she saw how ridiculous 
she looked lying down on the grass, seemingly lost in admi- 
]‘ation at the cow's antics. At last the cow was stopped and 
held fast by Mary, while Mamie rose to her feet again and 
got out of the cow's reach, leaving her stool behind. 

^^Well," said Mary, ^^shall we try again, Mamie?" 

^^0, my heart, I guess not ! I had rather tackle a doz- 
en horses than one cow." 

Mary laughed till the tears ran down her cheeks, but 
slie managed to say, ^^Don't be angry with me for laughing ; 
I can't help it ; you did really look so funny, and what ever 
made you spurt the milk into vour face instead of in the 
pail?" 

Mamie laughed so heartily at the recollection of the 
start she had got when the milk had come so suddenly and 
unexpectedly splashing her in the eyes that she could not 
answer for some time; at last she said, ^^Well, Mary, as the 
milk would n't come out I lifted the teat to see if the hole 
was stopped up, and I pulled it upward to have a look at it, 
but before I had time to make the inspection I was blinded ; 
I soon had the proof by my feelings, if not by the sight, that 
the hole was not stopped up, for the milk came out with a 
vengeance. I have often been told that inquisitive people 
come to grief, and now I know it." 

Mamie, won^t you try once more — not with this 


mis ami^ricaK' heiress 383 

cow, for she knows you too well to allow you to approach 
her again, but with another one/^ 

‘^Well, I should smile ! Look at the state I in; why, 
the sight of me would send any cow into fits. Just feel my 
hair; it is getting stiff where the milk has splashed. I 
shall have to go and take a bath, for I feel awfully bad.’^ 

^Toor Mamie,^^ laughed Mary ; ^^you really look bad, and 
your nice dress is quite spoiled ; but then you won^t be able 
to say that you have milked a cow if you don^t try again.^^ 
don’t care, Mary, but you don’t catch me trying 
again, and it will be much more amusing to relate what has 
just happened than to simply say, can milk a cow.’ ” 

^^But surely you are not going to tell anyone what you 
have just done to the poor cow and how she retaliated upon 
you ?” 

^^0, but I am ; it will be great fun.” 

And she did that night, and she laughed so heartily that 
every one joined in, and Julia remarked, do hope, cousin 
Mamie, that you won’t come to grief in your race with Tom 
as you did with the cov^ to-day. I would n’t go if I were 
you.” 

^^Won’t I, though? Black Prince and I know one an- 
other by this time. I ride him every morning before 
you ’re up.” 

^^Quite true,” said Mr. Eussell, ^‘1 have seen her, and 
really she manages him far better than I do. When is the 
race to be, Mamie ?” 

^^Saturday afternoon, when Tom comes back from his 
office ; he comes too late on other days.” 

^^Well, my dear, be very careful, and you, Tom, don’t go 
at breakneck pace, and don’t leap over tolls and hedges; 
remember that your cousin will try to follow you.” 

^^All right, father; I ’ll let Mamie go first and I ’ll fol- 
low wherever she leads me. I hope this will satisfy you 
all.” 

Miss Hogg laughed, promised to look after Tom, and 
every one enjoyed the joke. 

Mrs. Hogg smiled, for she knew that unless Tom was an 
extraordinarily good rider he would be no match for 
Mamie. She admired her nephew very much, and was 
pleased to see the growing friendship between him and her 
daughter, though she often wondered what her husband 


MISS HOdO 


884 

would say, for he had an antipathy for the Eussells quite 
unaccountable, for they had never troubled him in any 
Way^ never asked him for a favor; had never come to visit 
him, and he had never visited them, and no reasoning of 
his wife could alter his mind. The fact was, though he 
had taken great care to hide it, that with all his money he 
felt himself their inferior, and he knew that his way of 
making money would not have been approved by them had 
they known it ; and he had found them too refined and quiet 
in their manners and speech. He was a bully and very 
arrogant and overbearing to those who were under him, or 
less rich than he was, and he would have borne any amount 
of insult if money was to be made by it. His English was 
of the lowest order, mixed with American slang, and he 
was a braggart. He had fallen in love with Sophy Eussell 
as much as a man of his kind could do. She had come to 
New York^ith some friends at Christmas time, and at one 
of the crossings had very nearly been run over by a beer 
wagon; he had rushed up and caught her in his arms just 
in time to save her life, and Miss Eussell, seeing the danger 
she had escaped, and, finding herself in the arms of a 
strange young man, had fainted. Mr. Hogg had helped 
her into a cab which had been called by her friends, and 
had noticed what a pretty girl she was and what a fine 
complexion she had. She was not a New Yorker, that 
was evident. He heard the address given to the cabman 
and promised himself to call there. Miss EusselFs friends 
thanked him and invited him to call on them ; he had done 
so, and in time had gone to visit the Eussell family, 
proposed to Sophy, and eventually married her; but as 
soon as they were married he made her understand that he 
would have none of her people visit him, but if she chose 
to go and visit them now and then, not too often, he 
would not object. He had been good to her, and had 
allowed her as much money as she had wished for. He 
dearly loved his daughter, but hated the Eussells, and so 
Mamie had always been told by him that her mother’s 
people were fools and as poor as rats. 

As for her mother, she had never discussed them 
until Mamie had asked her about them, and this visit had 
followed. What a pleasant surprise these relatives had 
been to her, and how strange that she should have fallen 


AMIIHICAK 


385 


in love with her cousin Tom ! In fact, she loved them 
all ; she had never been so happy in all her life ; she almost 
forgot her revenge on Lady Montgomery, and she now 
wished that she had not taken Lady Florence, for she did 
not see her way clear, but she made up her mind to confide 
in Tom; not now, but later on; should he ever propose 
to her she would tell him everything before accepting him. 
These thoughts sometimes came into her mind; they knew 
that they loved each other, and that fact was also clear to 
all the other members of the family except John, who had 
no thoughts of love, but enjoyed all the fun, and longed 
to see the race between his brother and his cousin. He 
wanted to bet five dollars on Mamie, but no one would take 
his bet, and he felt very much injured. 

At last Saturday came; he was all excitement and 
would have liked to see the horses ready ^ least two 
hours before the time. He wanted Mamie^o Mress im- 
mediately after dinner, and in this good old farmhouse 
the dinner hour was twelve o’clock. Tom was not expected 
before three, and the race would not occupy more than an 
hour at most, so it had been arranged that they would 
start at four sharp. J ohn kept looking at the big old clock, 
and he said more than once that he 'was sure it was slow, 
or perhaps had stopped altogether; then he would run 
to the stables to see if the horses were in good trim; he 
had brushed them himself till they shone like silk. 

At last Tom was seen coming down the avenue, and 
John ran in to tell cousin Mamie, but was told by Julia 
that she had gone upstairs to dress. He waited awhile 
but not seeing her come downstairs he ran to see if Tom 
was ready and found him in the stable, not dressed for the 
race. He exclaimed, ^^0, Tom, why don’t you go and 
dress? Mamie will be down in a minute; the horses are 
all right ; I looked after them. Shall I saddle them while 
you’re dressing?” 

^^No; time enough when I ’m dressed;” and he walked 
leisurely away. 

Half an hour later he came do'wn wearing* tan colored 
gaiters, tan gloves, black velveteen suit and derby hat, and 
carrying the riding whip given to him by Mamie. He 
looked handsomer than ever. Mamie soon joined him, 
dressed in a black riding habit and black felt hat with a 


386 


MISS HOGG 


long white plume, white gauntlets, and a white rose at 
her breast. She carried a silver-mounted whip. She 
pinned a white rose in her cousin^s buttonhole, and he 
gallantly kissed her hand. It was the first time he had 
done it and it thrilled her and brought the roses to her 
cheeks. 

Tom^s eyes sparkled with happiness for he saw that his 
cousin was not indifferent to him. John recalled them 
from their reverie by saying^ ^^The horses are at the door 
and grandfather and grandmother have gone up to the 
lookout, where we are all going as soon as you have 
started.^^ 

Tom examined Black Prince to see if he was all 
right, helped his cousin to mount, and placing the reins 
in her hands he murmured, ^^You will be careful for my 
sake, dear Mamie 

And she answered, blushing, will, dear Tom; doiiT 
fear for me; let us go.^^ 

Tom mounted his own horse, raised his hat to the 
members of his family, who had assembled in front of the 
house to see them start, and Mamie kissed her hand to 
them, John calling to her, ^^Mind you beat him, Mamie.^^ 

^^All right, John, I'll do my best. Good-by, all;^^ 
and they went up the avenue on a trot. They were not 
to start for good until they reached the main road. The 
watchers ran up to the lookout to see the start. The 
lookout was at the top of the house — a large room above 
the thatched roof, with windows on all sides, affording 
a fine view of the country around. The old folks were 
already there enjoying the fun almost as much as the 
younger ones. 

When Tom and Mamie reached the main road they 
stopped for a moment and looked back toward the house, 
flourished their whips for good-by, and started side by side. 
They were both fine riders and seemed to be equal; they 
sat their horses superbly, with their heads slightly bent 
forward; it was hard to say which would win; the horses 
seemed to fly; they seemed to understand that they were 
racing each other; Black Prince’s eyes were shining brightly 
and were nearly double their usual size, and his nostrils 
were open and quivering with excitement; one could see 
that he was in his element, and that he did not intend to 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


387 


allow the other horse to pass him. Tom’s horse was 
more quiet, but kept his place, never allowing Black 
Prince to pass him, so that so far they were equal; they 
could be plainly seen from the lookout. The older people 
were the calmest of all present except Mrs. Hogg, and 
though she said nothing she knew very well that Mamie 
would play Tom a trick before the race was over. Mr. 
and Mrs. Eussell, though they admired Mamie and were 
becoming fond of her, would prefer that Tom should win, 
and in their hearts hoped that he would do so for the 
honor of the Eussells, but they kept their thoughts to 
themselves. As for Mary and Julia, they feared that 
Mamie would come to grief, for they knew what a dare- 
devil Tom was, and they were sure that he would leap 
some gates or hedges and laugh at his cousin for not being 
able to follow him. 

John watched the race as if his very life depended on his 
cousin’s winning it. ^^Look, look,’^ he would say, ^^don’t 
you think that Mamie will win? But why does she keep 
by Tom’s side? Why don’t she tire ahead? Black Prince 
can go faster than that, I know he can. 0, that ’s too 
bad, Tom ’s ahead ! Mamie, Mamie, why don’t you go 
faster?” he hallooed at the top of his voice, just 'as if 
Miss Hogg could hear him at such a distance; and he 
danced and threw his arms about in his excitement nearly 
knocking off his grandmother’s cap. 

^^Come, John, you can’t stay here if you go 'on like 
that; you nearly knocked your grandmother down,” said 
his father. 

H ’m sorry,” said J ohn, setting his grandmother’s 
cap right, and kissing her wrinkled cheek; ^^did I hurt 
you, grandma?” 

^^Ho, child; but keep away from us old people or you 
will hurt us.” 

Tom is still ahead ; Mrs. Hogg feels a little surprised ; 
still, she knows Mamie and she can’t believe that she will 
allow him to win. 

tell you what it is,” said Mary, ^They will soon be 
at the toll-gate and Tom is going to leap it, I know he 
is, and Mamie is keeping her horse back so that he may 
not follow.” 

Yes, Mary was right; Tojii was going to leap oyer the 


388 


MISS HOGG 


gate, Mamie having asked him to do it, holding her own 
horse so as to see him do it. He cleared the gate splen- 
didly. 

^‘'Look, look,^^ cried John; ^^Tom has cleared the gate. 
Mamie, go ahead; jump, Mamie; I know yon can; she^s 
going to do it; look at herP 

Yes, she was going to leap the gate too. Black Prince 
stood still for a second; then, rising on his hind legs, 
the front ones bent at the knees, over he went. It was 
a grand leap. 

^^See how well she did said John. ^^Now she^s 
going to shoot ahead, see if she don^t;^^ and he was right. 

Tom looked back just in time to see his cousin pass 
him like an arrow, flourishing her whip as she passed 
him with the laughing words, ^Tollow your leader, Tom 
and Tom did try to follow, but was soon left behind. She 
leaped over hedges and field gates, Tom following bravely, 
but never getting ahead of his cousin; still he had leaped 
every hedge and gate that she had, so that they were even. 
Miss Hogg looked for a higher gate and saw one at some 
distance. Would Prince be able to do it? ^^Shall we try, 
old fellow, eh?^^ rubbing his neck with the whip. The 
horse neighed as if in answer to her question. ‘^All right, 
then ; we Ye going to try and she made for the gate, 
settling herself solidly on her saddle so as not to go over her 
horse’s head should he not clear the gate properly. 

When Tom saw her make for the gate he thought, 
^^Surely she is not going to try that ; she will never do it ; 
why, it is more than five feet ; she ’ll break her neck.” 

And in the lookout they were all excitement. At every 
leap John had cried, ^^Did you ever see such a leap ? Bravo, 
Mamie !” 

^^You may as well say, ^Bravo, Tom,’ ” said Mrs. Hogg, 
^Yor Tom has leaped too.” • 

^^0, but here comes a stunner,” said John; ^^she’s 
going to Jump Parmer Dean’s gate; it’s a five footer; 
she ’ll do it ; I know she will ; there she goes, right over. 
Black Prince has come to his knees, but Mamie is not 
thrown ; she ’s got him up again. Here comes Tom ; Mamie 
is waiting to see how he is going to do it ; he ’ll never do it ; 
why, it was as much as Black Prince could do, and the 
gate must have grazed his stomach or he would never have 


THE AMEKTCAIsr HEIRESS 


389 


fallen on his knees as he did. How could Mamie keep 
her seat ? I don^t understand ; and how quick she had him 
on his feet again, patting his neck as if to say, ^You have 
done well, old fellow !’ But look at Tom ; his horse won’t 
leap; he’s trying again, and urging him, but it’s no use; 
the poor fellow can’t do it or he would.” 

John had a soft heart and could not bear to see 
anything hurt. The horse seemed on the point of jumping 
— at least he looked as if he were going to try it — but 
when near enough to take the leap he had refused, and 
when urged with the whip he had turned round so quickly 
and kicked at the gate that if Tom had not been a 
good horseman he would have been thrown ; but he kept his 
seat while the horse carried him some distance at a furious 
gallop. The horse had done his best and was angry at 
being beaten to make him do what he felt he could not 
do. 

^^iSTow, Black Prince,” said Miss Hogg, ^Ve must go 
back the way we came in; you must give a better leap; 
you know that we very nearly came to grief, you and I; 
shall we try? How that you know the gate you will do it 
better ;” and galloping some distance, she turned her 
horse’s head toward the gate again. 

^^Why,” cried John, ^^she is going to leap back into 
the road, and Tom is hurrying back to see her ; now for 
it !” 

This time Black Prince cleared the gate splendidly, 
landing on his forefeet without touching the gate. Tom 
was by her side in a moment and seemed to be kissing 
her hand. 

^^Whatever is Tom up to?” cried John; ^^he’s kissing 
Mamie’s hand because she has beaten him. Well, I can’t 
understand that, can you?” turning to those whose only 
answer was a hearty laugh. ^Well, I don’t see why you 
should all laugh at me; what have I said that ’s so funny?” 
but he received no other answer than another peal of 
laughter. 

Tom had forgotten that he could be seen from the 
house when he kissed Mamie’s hand. 

^^Well, what are they going to do now?” said John 
when he saw that no one would enlighten him on the 
subject; ^They seem to be at a standstill. Tom h^s kissed 


390 


MISS HOGG 


Mamie’s hand and Mamie is kissing her horse’s neck; 
there ’s no fun in that.” 

However, they soon turned their horse’s heads, and they 
walked them towards home, seemingly conversing. 

^^Are n’t they going to race any more ?” said J ohn. 

^‘^Why, you want too much, my boy,” said his father; 
^^they must be tired.” 

^^ISto, they ’re not; and they ’re going to race again; look 
at them.” 

Yes, they were galloping; they both leaped the toll- 
gate together, and then the race began in earnest. Mamie 
went ahead steadily increasing the distance between them ; 
Tom’s horse seemed to have lost courage; the whip had 
disheartened him, and though he was going at a good 
pace he seemed to understand that he would not reach 
Black Prince, even if he did his best. If he had been an 
English horse he would not have lost courage, but would 
have done his best to the last. Still, I must say here 
that a whip should never be used on a good horse. Urge 
him by kindness, not by blows; he would be as proud 
to be the winner as you would be to have him win, and 
he will do his best if there is any good blood in him. 

Mamie passed the farmhouse in triumph and then 
waited for Tom; she could see everybody on the lookout 
waving -handkerchiefs at her, and J ohn’s voice could be 
heard calling, ^^Bravo, Mamie ! I knew you would win.” 

Tom caught up with his cousin, and they walked their 
horses side by side. When they reached the house the 
family was assembled to receive them, and they were loud 
in Mamie’s praises. John asked to be allowed to kiss 
her because she was a brick ; Mamie gave him a hearty kiss, 
and said he was a naughty boy for having wished her to 
win and poor Tom to lose. Tom said he did n’t mind it 
in the least, but still he thought that if John had a kiss 
he ought to have one too to repay him for having lost his 
race. Mamie laughed and said that it was not in the agree- 
ment that the winner should kiss the loser, and that he 
must not expect it, and John made a finish by saying, 
^Uousin Mamie, give him your hand to kiss ; we saw him 
kissing it after you had leaped the gate for the second 
time.” Every one laughed and Mamie blushed and ran 
upstairs, while Tom looked embarrassed for a moment, and 


THE AMERICAK HEIRESS 391 

then smiled and said that some people could see too far 
to be agreeable to others. 

^^Indeed/'’ said Mary, mischievously, ^Ve enjoyed the 
joke immensely. 

Tom had to beat a retreat, for everybody joked him 
without mercy ; and he promised himself that the next time 
he kissed his cousin^s hand it would not be in sight of the 
lookout, which he had entirely forgotten at the time. 

Months passed away, during which they enjoyed picnics 
and long rides in the country with some of the neighboring 
farmers, and Mrs. Hogg said that she felt like a young 
girl again. She wished Isabelle was with them for she 
was sure she would enjoy all their innocent pleasures. 
Her mother said, ^^You must send her to us when you get 
back, and come yourself, if possible, and, my dear Sophy, 
you will have to get around your husband, for you can see 
how matters stand between Mamie and Tom. I never saw 
young people more fond of each other than these two are.^^ 

H am afraid to think of it, mother; I like Tom, and 
nothing would please me better than to see him Mamie^s 
husband ; but how is it to be managed ? I think I dl let 
Mamie manage her own business; she has a strong will of 
her own, and she loves Tom, anyone can see that, and 
she is not going to lose him for a whim of her father’s. 
I won’t say anything until I am obliged to.^^ 

But one morning their pleasure came to an end. A 
letter was received from Mr. Hogg asking them if they 
meant to stay there until doomsday, and saying that if 
they were not back home in less than a week he would 
come and fetch them. 

^^Let him come,” said the Bussells; will give him 
such a welcome that he won’t dare scold us for keeping 
you with us so long.” 

dare not,” said Mrs. Hogg. ^Tt is bad enough for 
us to have stayed away so long, but were he to see how 
matters stand between Tom and Mamie he might say and 
do things that could never be forgotten by you, and it would 
ruin their future happiness; we must go this week, and 
trust to Mamie to manage her father in regard to Tom.” 

Preparations were made for their departure, and it 
was with regret on both sides that they parted. Mrs. 


m 


Miss Hoac^ 


and Miss Hogg felt deeply mortified not to be able to 
invite their kind relatives to return their visit. 

^^Still/^ said Mrs Hogg, ^Vhen you come to New York 
I want you to let me know; the house in Clinton avenue, 
Brooklyn, is mine, and surely I can receive you there; I 
prefer it to our grander one in Fifth Avenue, New York. 
Don^t say no,^^ she continued, as she saw a refusal written 
on every face. shall tell my husband what I am doing, 
and who knows — he may come round; and to insure the 
future happiness of our children we must not let our 
pride stand in the way.^^ 

The old people said she was right; that they must try 
to make friends with Mr. Hogg at any cost to their pride. 

The young people felt the parting deeply and told 
Mamie again and again that she must soon make them 
another visit. Tom said he had some law business that 
required his presence in New York soon and he would 
manage to see his aunt and cousin during his stay there. 
The day before the departure Tom and Mamie had a ride 
by themselves and came back looking exceedingly happy. 

The next day Mrs. Hogg bade her father and mother 
good-by with tears in her eyes, promising to come again 
soon, and thanking them for their kind welcome after 
so many years of neglect on her part. The old people 
could only clasp her in their arms and weep over her. 

When it was Mamie^s turn to say good-by her grand- 
mother said to her, ^^My dear, you love Tom; donT blush; 
he loves you also; our old eyes have seen it from the first. 
Now mind that you let no one come between you and him; 
donT break his heart, my dear ; there are many happy days 
before you both if you follow my advice.^^ 

’ll never break Tom’s heart,” she replied, ^^for it 
would be breaking my own at the same time. 0, grandma, 
you don’t know how I love him;” and she hid her face in 
the old lady’s neck. 

^^Yes, I do, dear; I only loved once; I married the 
man I loved, and my life has been one long, beautiful 
summer. I wish you the same happiness, and you will 
find it with Tom, my dear ;” and Mamie had kissed her 
dear old grandmother with tears in her eyes, but great 
Joy in her heart. 

Her grandfather kissed her, saying, ^^Bless you, my 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


303 

cliild; there are bright days in store for yon; good-by for 
a little while. Tom will soon bring you back to us again.^^ 

Yes, all this would have come to pass if Miss Hogg had 
not taken Lady Florence de La Eochefoucauld, Lady Mont- 
gomery’s niece. She would be the stumbling block to their 
happiness, not Mr. Hogg, whom they all feared. 

Many of my readers who have left their youth far 
behind them will agree with me that it is often their 
own deeds, past deeds dojie in fun or thoughtlessness, that 
later, when almost forgotten, have confronted them at the 
moment when the gate of earthly paradise seemed ope7i 
to them, and side by side with their loved one they were 
entering the paradise. Those deeds then no longer look 
like fun, but more like crime, for we feel that they will 
part us from the beloved one when known, and the gate 
of earthly paradise will be forever closed to us, and will 
leave us groping in darkness for the jewel that we have 
lost and will never find again, for he or she has lost faith 
in us, and without faith there can be no true love. How 
many marriages can trace their unhappiness to deeds 
committed before marriage, some very innocently, but 
which look like guilt through circumstances that cannot be 
explained, or that have been denied in the first fear of 
discovery, and the denial has added weight and guilt to 
the deed which may amount to very little in itself: 

Let no one hope to mend matters by an untruth; let 
us never do a deed, or say a word, that we may have to 
blush for in after years. And should we have the mis- 
fortune to have already done so let us not deceive anyone 
by a denial and a falsehood, which will only make us 
appear more unworthy in their eyes and will not deceive 
them; for it is better to b^ a repentant sinner than a 
hardened one. 

But let us return to Miss Hogg< who parted from Tom 
with a great weight on her mind. She was greatly changed 
since she had been with her mother’s people and had 
fallen in love with Tom, and she feared what he would 
say when he knew what she had done ; he would never help 
her, she was sure of that. Would he marry her and re- 
main silent? She doubted it. Would he betray her and 
write to Lady Montgomery? Ho, he would never do that. 
Then what would he do? He loved her so dearly, would 


394 


MISS HOGG 


he, could he, give her up ? ^^0, no, not that ; I would die if 
he ceased to love me, my ovm dear Tom/^ And tears came 
to her eyes as all these painful thoughts came to her mind, 
and when she parted from him on the railway platform 
her eyes met his with so much of sorrow and love in them 
that he could not understand her and he threw his arm 
around her and for a moment pressed her to his heart as 
he gave her the parting kiss, saying, will see you next 
week, dearest Mamie; I am coming to hTew York;’^ and 
having wished his aunt good-by he helped them into one 
of the carriages. He remained on the platform until the 
train left, then returned home whistling a merry tune, for 
he felt happy in the knov/ledge of his cousin’s love for 
him. He had no fear for the future ; his uncle, be he ever 
so boorish, loved his child, and surely would be pleased 
to see her happy even if it took some time to open his 
eyes to the fact ; they could wait, as long as they saw each 
other sometimes. 

As for Miss Hogg, she did not feel so hopeful; it was 
not her father she feared; she well knew that he would 
have to come round in time; but it was what she had 
done that seemed to place a barrier between Tom and 
herself ; and, 0, how dear he had become to her ! He was 
the best part of herself ; she could never give him up ; and 
she felt sure that were he to know of Lady Florence’s 
abduction by her he would despise her. and a heavy sigh 
escaped her. 

^^What’s the matter, Mamie?” asked her mother, in 
surprise; ^^are you ill, my dear?” 

^^Ho, ma, I’m all right;” and she laughed and called 
herself a fool for her foreboding of evil. Where there ’s 
a will there must be a way, and she would find it. ^W^ell, 
ma, I feel sad at leaving our people ; we ’ve had grand 
time, haven’t we now?” 

^^Yes, my dear, I was never so happy in all my life 
before. I was so pleased to find my father and mother still 
living, and my brother and his wife were so good to me; 
in fact, they all did everything that they possibly could to 
make us feel at home.” 

^^And they succeeded;” said .Mamie; ^Tor I, like you, 
have never been half so happy in all my life as I have been 
these last two .months,” 


know it, my dear, but what will your father say? 
that ‘s what troubles ine.'^ 

^^Well, ma, don^t trouble, and above all things don’t 
you mention Tom to him ; don’t say more than you can help 
about the Eussells; it will be far better; for you would be 
sure to talk about Tom. I have a plan; you leave me to 
work it.^’ 

^^Well, Mamie, I am much relieved by your words. I 
had feared that you expected me to make it all right with 
him.” 

^‘^ISTo, ma; not now at least; I T1 try my plan first.” 

They reached New York in due time and found their 
carriage waiting at the Grand Central Depot, Forty- 
second street, and were surprised to find that Mr. Hogg 
himself had come to meet them, and looked overjoyed 
at having them back again. 

‘'Toor pa,” said Miss Hogg, ^^you have felt lonely, 
have n’t you ?” 

^Y"es, my gal, and I hate those Eussells more than ever 
for keeping you so long away from your dad.” 

’m sorry, pa ; if we had known that you wanted us 
back so bad we would have come ; would n’t we, ma ?” 

^^Certainly my dear, but I thought your father would 
be pleased to be alone for a time for he always says that 
we trouble him a great deal in his busy times.” 

^^0, that ’s all very well,” said the old man, ^^but then 
I don’t always mean what I say; and after a busy day I 
like to find my wife and daughter at home to cheer me up. 
Well, Mamie, you don’t seem to say much about the 
Eussells, eh ? they ’re not our style, are they ?” 

^^No, pa, not at all.” 

^^That ’s my own gal ; I ought to have known that she 
would n’t turn away from her old dad for all the beggarly 
Eussells in the world.” 

’ll never turn against you, pa ; but here we are at 
home,” as the carriage stopped at their mansion in Fifth 
Avenue. 

Poor Mrs. Hogg felt very much hurt at the manner 
in which Mr. Hogg spoke of her family, and was surprised 
that Mamie took it so tamely ; but when she looked at her 
daughter she saw that she suffered as much as she herself 
did, and from the red spots iff her cheeks and her flashing 


396 Mifis letoaa 

black eyes it was evident tKat she had hard work to 
retain her indignation; and when her father had said that 
the Eussells were not their style her answer had come hard 
and sharp, and with an angry flash in her black eyes that 
her father had supposed was contempt for the Eussells ; it 
had pleased him ; he had called her his own gal, regardless 
of his wife^s feelings. He was kind to his wife personally, 
wanted her all to himself, and was jealous of her affection 
for her people ; she had become used to it, and she held her 
peace whenever he spoke of the Eussells, which, happily 
for his wife, was not often. On this occasion he did not 
even ask how they were ; nor was he aware that there were 
3 ^oung people in the old home; he had no idea of a young 
man named Tom being there or he would soon have guessed 
the reason of their long stay there and would have investi- 
gated the matter and made it unpleasant for both his 
wife and his daughter. 

After dinner he asked : ^^Any good business to be done 
down there, anything worth speculating in, my gal, eh? 
I donT ask your mother for she has no head for business, 
nor her family neither, or they would nT be so devilish 
poor, would they, my gal?^^ 

^^0, pa, I canT say that they are poor V’ 

^^What, donT they milk their cows themselves? They 
used to when 1 was there, and your mother did when a 
gal. You, my dear, never did such a thing in all your 
life.^^ 

Mamie laughed heartily at the recollection of trying 
to milk the cow and the consequences, and her mother 
joining in, was really a stunner for Mr. Hogg, who could 
not see the joke, and was beginning to look angry, when 
Mamie said, H saw a good investment; I spoke to a 
lawyer about it, and he ^s coming to see you on the subject 
very soon, he told me.^^ 

^^Well, my gal, if it ^s a good investment it has to be 
snapped up or it will be gone : if it^s not, then it^s no 
good; those lawyers are such rogues yoii canT trust them. 
What concern is it — a factory, or tenement houses with lots 
of taxes on them, eh ?” 

^^Ho, pa, it ^s a lovely farm, with a fine, stvlish house on 
it; they are asking twenty-five thousand dollars for it, 
but the young lawyer told me that he Ayould undertake 


AMjERiOAlt HEIRESS 39t 

to bring thein down to twenty thousand dollars for cash, 
and that it would bring from ten to fourteen per cent/^ 
^^Ah, ha, a young lawyer, eh ! And why does he feel 
so interested in your having the farm, eh, my gal ? Your 
father ain^t a fool/^ 

^^0, don^t talk nonsense, pa. Do you wish to buy the 
farm or not? He told me the Eussells would like to buy 
it as it joins theirs, but that he feared that they didn^t 
have enough to pay cash, and of course it would no longer 
be a bargain if they had to pay $25,000 for it; still, they 
want it so badly that he thinks they will come to some 
arrangement very soon if no better offer is made. That ^s 
the reason I ^m telling you all about it before it ^s too late. 
What do you say, pa ? I ^d like it very much myself. 

^^Well, my gal, you shall have it; I ^11 snap it up before 
the Eussells can say Jack Eobinson, and show them that 
I have brass. Who is this young lawyer 

^Ht Mr. Thomas ; he will be in New York next week 
and will call at your office if you wish it.^^ 

^^Certainly, my gal, I wish it. I long to have that 
farm since the Eussells want it.^^ 

Mrs. Hogg looked at her daughter in surprise and 
thought: ^^She has a great deal of her father^s deceitful- 
ness and will manage him when I could nT, for I would not 
entrap him as she is going to do. How will he take it when 
he finds out the truth and how his daughter has taken him 
in? Still, she will succeed where I should fail. But how 
about Tom, will he like it and wishing to mend matters, 
she said: ^^My dear husband, I would like to say a few 
words to you about my people; they received us as well 
as they possibly could, and should any of them come to New 
York I wish them to come to me, and not go to a hotel 
like sti-angers.^^ 

^^0, I thought as much; we Ye going to have the 
whole gang here now that you Ye been to see them, just 
like flies around a pot of honey. Why did nY you pay them 
for what they did for you? Pay them, but donY have 
them here ; I tell you I wonY have it and he was flushed 
with anger, almost beside himself with passion. Miss 
Hogg signaled to her mother with her eyes to drop the 
subject, but to- no effect; the mild little woman saw that 
now was her time to assert herself, and for the future 


MISS MOOa 


398 

happiness of her daughter she continued: people aro 

not of those who would receive money for what they did 
for us^ and I would never dare to make them the ofEer/^ 
^‘^More fools they; if I was poor and had rich relations 
willing to pay I ^d make them come down with a good, 
round sum, I can tell you, and laugh at them in my sleeve. 
But I tell you once for all I won^t have them here.^^ 

have no intention of having them come here, James.’^ 
^^Well, what do you mean ? I ^m blest if I can under- 
stand you; you just said you would have them here and 
now you go back on your word.^^ 

^^If you had allowed me to explain myself without 
flying into such a rage, I was going to say that should any 
of them come here I will receive them in my house in 
Brooklyn, and they will not trouble ygu in the least and 
will never set foot in this house unless you invife them 
yourself.^^ 

^^0, well, I ^11 bet they ^11 have to wait a long time if 
they wait till I tell them to come; but if you want them 
so bad you can receive the whole gang of them in that 
barrack in Clinton avenue.^^ 

^Thank you, James; they will be satisfied; it is a very 
handsome barrack — the finest in the avenue — and it was 
good of you to give it to me, my dear; and though it is 
mine by law I would never think of receiving anyone there 
unless you knew it and gave your consent.^^ 

^^Well, I must say, Sophy, that if you ^re not over clever 
you are frank and truthful and have never deceived me 
by word or deed; and there are few chaps here in New 
York who can say as much of their wives.^^ And he quite 
recovered his temper, and said : ^^Do as you like, Sophy, but 
don^t ask me to have them here ; and I J1 tell you what — if 
they Ye shabby get them some togs ; donY go about with 
shabbily dressed folks. When are they coming 

^^0, my dear, I don’t know ; they may never come ; still, 
in case they do, I thought it best to have an understanding. 
Now we will drop the subject.” 

Miss Hogg looked at her mother and thought, ^^How 
well she has managed pa, and without a word of deceit !” 
She saw her mother in a different light to what she had 
some months before; and she thought that, though not a 
grand lady, she was far from being vulgar, and that she her- 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


399 


self had far more cause for being ashamed of her father than 
of her mother or her mother's people. And Tom^ dear 
Tom^ how handsome he was, and so gentlemanly ! There 
was no man in ISTew York who could hold a candle to 
him; he was perfectly English. 

Mrs. Hogg wrote to her people, telling them that with 
her husband^s consent she would receive them in her house 
in Brooklyn whenever they wished to come ; that she hoped 
soon to see some of them ; that Tom was coming right away 
to see he? husband about the purchase of the farm; he 
had not been told that Tom was his nephew, only a lawyer, 
a Mr. TliDmas, — Mamie had told her father, not she. 

^‘^Well/^ said Mr. Kussell, when he had read the letter, 
^Vhat are you going to do, Tom?^’ 

tMnk I had better take Mr. Godfrey with me and 
let him arrange matters with my uncle; I hate to make 
his acquaintance under false pretenses ; still, I will go with 
my pariner as his clerk, for I want very much to see what 
kind of man my uncle is.'’^ 


400 


MISS HOGG 


CHAPTEK LV. 

A FEW days later Mr. Hogg was sitting at his desk in 
his office in Wall street examining what mortgages he 
would foreclose so as to leave himself a good prpfit, when 
his office door opened and his wife and daughter walked 
in, all smiles, and followed by two gentlemen-|~lawyers, 
they seemed to him. Miss Hogg took it upon perself to 
introduce them: ^^My dear father, allow me to f resent to 
you Mr. Godfrey, a lawyer, and his partner, Mr. Thomas ; 
they have come about the farm.’^ And turning to the two 
lawyers, she said, ^^My father, Mr. Hogg.^^ 

Mr. Hogg looked hard at the two young men, iid they 
looked at him. They both knew him to be a million4re. Did 
he look like one in his shabby, shiny office coat, his not 
over-clean shoes, his shining bald head, big stomach, short 
legs, cunning, unscrupulous eyes ? Tom was not favorably 
impressed by the appearance of his future father-4i-law, 
but, strange to say, Mr. Hogg took to Tom at first sight, 
and winked at Mamie, who became very rosy, anl said, 
^^Now, pa, mind that you buy that farm in my name ; you 
can have all the profit of it. but let it be purebred in 
my name.^^ 

^Well, I guess you know what ’s good, eh, to edme, so 
to speak, and grab twenty thousand dollars out of mylpocket 
as if it was a mere nothing, eh, miss?^^ and he laughed 
merrily. 

^^Well,^^ said his wife, ^^you have only one child, andshe 
will have everything one day.^’ 

^^0, let the day be far off,^’ said Mamie. ^^Now lei us 
go, ma ; we ^re only in the way. Will you come bad to 
dinner, pa ?” 

^^Yes, of course, my dear; and will bring back tbse 
two gentlemen with me, so be sure to be at home.^’ 

^^All right, pa; good-by;” and mother afid daughter 
left the office re-pptered their carriage. 

Miss Hogg pid, ^^Did n^t I catch pa well, eh, whel I 
gsked him if ha coming, dinne:^? Ha had tp^ in^tp 


THE AMERICAN- HEIRESS 


401 


Tom and his partner; he could nT back out, they being 
strangers here/^ 

^^Yes, my dear, but I doubt if Tom will come/^ 

^^0, now come ; that would be too bad, after me taking 
all that trouble too ; surely if he loves me he ^11 come” 

^^There ’s no doubt that Tom loves you, Mamie, but he ’s 
a true Russell; truthful and honorable; and unless I am 
very much mistaken he will not deceive your father, and 
you ought to like him the better for it, my dear, and not 
ask him to do what you know he cannot do with honor/^ 

^^Well, ma, I differ with you ; I know he will come ; all ’s 
fair in love, you know/^ 

^^No, my dear, not for honest people; they can break 
their hearts, but cannot deceive. DonT let us say any more 
about it, Mamie; you take after your father more than 
after the Russells; still, you have a great deal of Russell 
blood in your veins ; they all said so down there.” 

^^Well, ma, I donT like to deceive pa, but I love Tom, 
and I wanted them to know one another ; and I know that 
had I said, Ta, here ^s Tom Russell come to see you,’ he 
would not even have looked at him but would have flown 
into a towering passion, insulted him and shown him the 
door too. You know that is true.” 

^^Yes, that is quite true, my dear, so I ’ll not say an- 
other word, but leave it to Tom to decide what is best for 
you two.” 

^^Did you see pa wink at me after looking at Tom? 
Why, he made me blush, and his partner seemed to enjoy 
the scene immensely.” 

^^Yes, I saw and felt humiliated that my husband 
should act as he did ; and I also saw that he took a liking to 
Tom at once and I was very pleased to see it, my dear. 
'Now if Tom were not a Russell everything would go smooth 
with you two; but God help Tom when it is discovered 
that he is one !” 

^Tndeed,” said Miss Hogg, ^^and didn’t my father 
marry a Russell, and why should n’t I ? It proves that we 
have the same taste;” and she laughed heartily at her 
own joke. ^^But here comes pa, and — ^yes, it is tyue, Tom 
and his partner. Did n’t I tell you that he ’d come ?” 
Mrs. Hogg joined her daughter at the window just in time, 
tQ see her husband and Wb two guests^ alight from a cah-, 


402 


MISS HOGG 


That Tom should have come surprised her; he looked so 
frank. How could his love for Mamie make him resort 
to deceit for her sake? Love, like madness, affects people 
differently, according to their natures. Some even sacrifice 
honor to love ! could Tom Eussell do it with that frank, 
honest face of his? She hardly knew how to receive him, 
for she felt that she was making of herself an accomplice to 
the deceit, and she looked reproachfully at Tom. Holding 
out her hand to Mr. Godfrey, she said, am pleased that 
you have come, and your partner also,^^ holding out her 
Iiand to Tom, but she could not bring herself to say 
"'Mr. Thomas."^ 

Her husband looked at her and laughed heartily, say- 
ing, "Here is a wife who will never deceive her husband.” 
Mrs. Hogg blushed at such an open compliment, and Miss 
Hogg looked uneasy, for she knew that something else was 
coming. Had her father discovered that he was Tom Eussell, 
or had Tom been fool enough to tell her father who he really 
was? No, for they seemed on good terms, and had he done 
so he would not be sitting there now, nor would her father 
have laughed as he was doing. What had happened then? 
She was not kept long in suspense, for turning to her he 
said, "So, my gal, you thought of stealing a march on your 
old dad, eh? with your Mr. Thomas when you knew all 
along that he was Tom Eussell, some relation to the 
Eussells where you have just been with your mother — how 
nearly related to him I have not asked him ; but he ^s a 
trump, and knowing somehow that I ^m not partial to the 
Eussells he would nT come here to dinner under the name 
of Mr. Thomas, and he told his reasons for refusing, saying 
that very likely I was not aware that he was related to the 
Eussells, and that in fact his name was Tom Eussell, and 
that he was from Jefferson City. And I said, "Eussell or 
no Eussell, you Te a peach, and the devil take me if you 
don’t have your dinner at my table this day,’ and you 
see I ’m going to keep my word ; ain’t I, Tom ?” giving him 
a slap on the shoulder that nearly threw him off his chair. 
"You must know, Tom, that that gal ’s the very devil with 
the male sex, and is always playing tricks on her dad. 
She brought us a divine some time ago and told us that 
his name was the Eev. Brownlow. If ever a fellow was 
mad after a gal he was, the old crank, for he must have 


TM AM13KtClAA^ 403 

been about forty years old. He got engaged to Mamie— but. 
but — 

^Ta, do you think that all this nonsense can interest 
these gentlemen who are strangers to us 

it^s all right, my gal; you need taking down a 
peg, for you played me a trick then and were about to 
play me another now with your Mr. Thomas, indeed/^ 

Miss Hogg left the room in a hurry, with a very red 
face, as she saw that her father was determined to expose 
Walgrave; her mother had already left the room before 
her father began to relate the dreadful affair, or she 
might have turned the conversation from this unpleasant 
topic. There was a look of pain and surprise in Tom’s 
honest blue eyes that made her heart ache, while in Mr. 
Godfrey’s eyes there was an amused look. He seemed to 
enjoy Mr. Hogg’s vulgarity of speech. 

^^Well,” continued Mr. Hogg, ^Ve had a party to 
celebrate the engagement ; it was a grand affair, for I never 
do things by half. Before we sat down to dinner she up 
and told us that the Eev. Brownlow was no other than 
the famous English detective, Walgrave, and it must have 
been true, for he had n’t a word to say in his own defense. 
Mamie showed him the door. The papers were full of it 
the next day, and when I asked Mamie what she meant 
by having played me such a dirty trick — pretending to 
be engaged and making a fool of me — she said that it was 
all for fun, and that she knew all along that he was Wal- 
grave, the detective, and that she had no intention of 
marrying him.” 

Mr. Godfrey laughed and said that Miss Hogg, being a 
rich heiress, could say and do many things that would 
appear strange in any other young lady, and that she was 
full of life and loved fun and mischief. Tom said not a 
word, but thought. Could Mamie do such a thing for 
the love of mischief? Ho; it looked to him more like 
revenge. Mr. Hogg looked rather sheepish after deliver- 
ing himself of this long speech, for he saw when too late 
that he had done wrong in exposing his daughter to these 
two strange gentlemen, and one of them a Bussell, who 
would go and babble about it on his return home. 

Dinner was announced, and Mrs. Hogg, having been 
told by Mamie what her father had been saying, tried to 


MISS HOCKl 


404 

make every one comfortable, and succeeded as far as her 
husband and Mr. Godfrey were concerned; but as for 
Tom and Mamie, who ought to have been so happy sitting 
at the same table in her father’s house, they looked any- 
thing but happy. Mr. Hogg discussed the farm that he 
had purchased for his ^^gal” and how it would annoy the 
other Eussells when they heard of it. Mr. Godfrey said 
that he would have to return to Jefferson City the next 
da}^, and that as soon as the deeds were made out he would 
send them, and that Mr. Hogg had done a good day’s work 
in buying that farm. Tom asked him if he intended to 
let it or send some of his people to work it. 

^^0, I ’ll have to ask Mamie ; it ’s hers. What are you 
going to do about it, my gal, eh?” 

^^Well, pa, I think I will discuss the matter with Mr. 
Eussell, who was the first to show me the farm.” 

^^You had better do so, and as his partner is going back 
to-morrow perhaps he can be spared for a few days and 
stay here to arrange matters with you.” 

^^Yes, that would be best,” said Mamie, who longed to 
talk to her cousin on other subjects than the farm; so she 
said, ^^Will you stay to oblige me, Mr. Eussell?” 

^^Certainly, Miss Hogg. I am at your disposal as long 
as you want me, and I will be pleased to discuss the 
matter with you.” 

Mrs. and Miss Hogg soon left the table and went to 
the drawing-room, where Tom shortly followed them. 
He met his aunt, who said, ^^Now, Tom, don’t let anything 
your uncle has said make you unhappy; he has a way of 
bringing up past events and mixing them up so that at 
first sight they look almost criminal, but when explained, 
prove to be a mere trifle. Mamie is very unhappy about 
his telling you what he did ; you know how she values your 
good opinion ; go to her in the next room, hear her explana- 
tion and discuss the farm, and let me see you both looking 
happy at tea time ; go, my boy, and don’t let any escapade 
of Mamie’s stand between you and her; she’s a good girl, 
Tom, and when you know her better you’ll agree with 
me.” 

"I believe you. Aunt Sophy. Mamie is very dear to 
me; nothing less than a dishonorable action, such as I 
am sure she could not be guilty of, could part us.” 


AMiERlCAI^ HjElRRSS 


405 


‘^1 know, my boy; and it was Walgrave^s fault more 
than hers ; he had made love to her on the steamer, in the 
disguise of a minister ; she knew him to be a detective, and 
that he was only amusing himself; so she flirted with 
him until the poor fellow began to love her in earnest; 
then she resolved to punish him by encouraging him, 
which she certainly ought not to have done* I never liked 
the man myself. Well, he grew more fond of her every 
day; there was no make-believe there. Then came that 
party that we gave in good faith to celebrate MamiS^s 
engagement; then she unmasked him by saying, ^You all 
know that this feast is to celebrate my engagement with 
the Eev. Sidney Brownlow, and no other; well, this man 
is not the Rev. Sidney Brownlow, but Mr. Walgrave, an 
English detective, who has come here under false pretenses 
to marry an heiress.^ And of course it made a sensation; 
her father flew into a terrible passion and Walgrave left 
the house saying, T did not want to marry your daughter 
for her money, but because I love her.^ I believed him ; he 
looked heartbroken, and as pale as death. That^s all/ 
Tom; there was no love-making between them; you may 
])elieve me.^^ 

do. Aunt Sophy, and I am glad that you have told 
me instead of Mamie. I will not ask her for any explanation, 
nor allow her to say a word about it. Now I am sfoing to 
her to arrange about the farm.^^ 

He went into the room, where he found his cousin look- 
ing rather embarrassed; he placed his arm around her 
waist, drew her towards him and kissed her forehead, say- 
ing, ^^Look up and smile, Mamie, my love; your mother 
has told me all about the trick you played the detective, and 
that you never loved him.^^ 

^^No, Tom, never think for a moment that I ever loved 
anyone but your own dear self. I never knew what it is 
to love until I met you;^^ and there was so much truth 
and love in her eyes as she looked up at him with her 
head on his shoulder that he could not doubt her. 

^^Dear Mamie, you have made me very happy; you also 
are my first love. Come, let us sit down and discuss your 
farm and tell me what you want done with it.^^ 

They sat down and discussed it. Her plan was that 


Miss HOCtd 


406 

Jerry and his wife would take charge of it, Jerry’s mother 
teaching Ivaty all that a good housewife ought to know, 
and that she herself would visit them and have a jolly time 
there. When Mrs. Hogg called them for tea she saw 
that the cloud had disappeared and that her daughter was 
happy once more. 

Tom remained with them a week and went about with 
them sight-seeing. Mamie had thoroughly enjoyed his 
visit, closing her eyes for the time to the danger 
that threatened her; Tom was with her and she forgot 
everything else; she would not think of the barrier that 
really stood between them. Tom had regarded the matter 
as the joke of a giddy young girl and had not referred to 
it after the explanation that his aunt had given him in 
all good faith, for he knew that she was truthful, and 
as she had assured him that there had been no love-making 
between them, he made little of the rest; and it was so 
long ago, too, that almost everybody had forgotten it, 
so that he too was happy; and though he did not see his 
cousin very often he corresponded with her regularly, and 
was beginning to press his suit; he had often asked her to 
name the day; but though her letters were very loving, 
she never gave a decided answer. She had been to the farm 
once since Jerry and Katy were settled there. Mrs. Martin 
divided her time between the farm and the house in 
Clinton avenue but was oftener in Clinton avenue, so as to 
be there to receive any letters which might compromise 
them, and it made her life very unsettled. 

Miss Hogg also lived in fear of ^ letter from the 
countess falling into other hands than hers, so that things 
were not pleasant for any of them. Tom had begged of 
Mamie to allow him to speak to her father and have the 
matter settled; she had promised to let him know in the 
course of a month, and with that he had to be content. 
Poor Miss Hogg was in a dreadful state of mind; she 
hardly knew what to do ; she did n’t dare to tell Tom what 
she had done ; it seemed harder to do as time went on. 0, 
why had she not told him when her father had exposed her ? 
It would have been easier then; she would lose him; he 
would believe her deceitful to the core. 0, why had she 
taken Lady Florence ? Dare she marry him without telling 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


407 


him of it? hTo, no; not that; he would leave her and 
hate her, so she must tell him. She had tried several 
times when alone with him to speak on the subject, but 
the words would n’t come ; they seemed to choke her ; and 
as she looked at her handsome cousin she thought that 
if she should lose him she would die. can’t give him up, 
and if I tell him he will despise me and turn away from 
me ; I ’ll wait a little longer ;” and the longer she waited 
the harder it was. He could not understand her,‘ for he 
could not doubt her love for him. He felt that there was 
something; he sometimes thought that she had a love 
affair of some kind and that it weighed on her mind ; and 
when he had once mentioned it to her she had denied it 
so firmly and with such a show of truth and love for 
himself that he had believed her as she said, ^^Dear Tom, 
never think for a moment that I have ever loved anyone 
but yourself; you are my first and last love.” 

Well, then, dear, why not name the da}^ ?” 

^^0, Tom, don’t ask me; I can’t tell you; I will some 
time, but not now ; I wish I could ;” and she looked so dis- 
tressed that he had said, ^^Since you never loved before 
you saw me I am satisfied. I don’t want to know what 
troubles you unless you wish to tell me, my own dear 
Mamie;” and again she had lost an opportunity of un- 
burdening her heart to the man who so truly loved her. 

Three days after Miss Hogg’s return to Fifth avenue 
her maid told her that Mrs. Martin was asking to see her. 

^^Show her in at once,” she exclaimed, with a feeling 
of fear. And she saw by Mrs. Martin’s pale face that 
something had gone wrong. Her first thought was for 
Tom, and she asked, ^^Has anything happened to Mr. 
Eussell?” 

^^Ho, miss, but I have a letter here, a black letter.” 

Miss Hogg turned very white. ^^Come this way;” and 
she led the way to a small room and locked the door. 
Then, letting herself fall into an easy chair, she murmured, 
^^Give me the letter. 0, my God! is she dead? I never 
thought of that when I took her away !” and she shivered 
all over. ^‘^Open the letter ; I can’t, my hands tremble so.” 

Mrs. Martin opened it and held it before her. It was 
not in the handwriting of the countess, and as she read 


408 


MISS HOGG 


it the color returned to her face and she ceased trembling. 
‘^Thank God, it is not she who is dead, but the poor 
countess. When did you get this letter 

The day you left us. It was forwarded to me from 
Clinton avenue, and as it was a black letter I have come 
as fast as I could to bring it to you. It gave us all a great 
shock. Katy fainted at the sight of it. ,I must go back 
as soon as you can spare me.^^ 

can’t spare you, so you had better send a telegram 
telling them that the old lady is dead and that yoii must 
leave for Europe at once; they will understand.” 

^^But who wrote the letter, miss ?” 

did n’t look and as she reopened the letter and 
looked at the signature she turned pale again and ex- 
claimed, ^^That lawyer! 0, I knew that trouble would 
come ! Why did I ever give the countess his address ? I 
must have been mad.” 

^^But what lawyer. Miss Hogg, if I may ask?” 

^^Why, Mr. Bridgewell.” 

^^What ! the one who got you the four thousand pounds 
from Lady Montgomery ? 0, Miss Hogg, we are lost ! He 
must have guessed that the young lady in the care of the 
countess is Lady Florence, and he must have given the 
information at once to Lady Montgomery.” 

don’t see that, Mrs. Martin ; my name has not been 
mentioned to him by the countess, she never having heard 
it. You remember that I presented myself to her as 
the child’s aunt, under the name of Mrs. Eeynolds, re- 
siding in Australia.” 

^^Yes, yes, I had forgotten ; but what am I to do ?” 

^^Send a telegram to your son first; ring the bell and 
send one of the servants with it.” 

Miss Hogg wrote the telegram and gave it to the maid 
who answered the bell. 

^^Now, Mrs. Martin, go to Clinton avenue, get a few 
things and leave for Havre this afternoon. A steamer 
leaves at three o’clock; go straight to the countess’s home 
and tell them that you have come for Isabelle Eeynolds 
and that you are going to take her to Australia. Pay them 
well, and don’t delay, but leave at once for America, take 
her t9 the farm and let me kno^ when you get there ” 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 409 

^^But they will find ns out in no time/^ said poor 
troubled Mrs. Martin. 

^^No, they won^t, for I going to send the lawyer 
on the wrong track, and while he ^s hunting in Australia 
the child can be safe at the farm, at least for some months 
to come; then 111 see what is to be done later on. Now 
leave me and do what I tell you; here is more money 
than you will require. I must write to the lawyer with- 
out delay.^^ 


410 


HISS HOGG 


CHAPTEE LVI. 

Miss Hogg felt that the web was closing around her; 
she had had a terrible shock that morning when she had 
seen the black letter, for she had felt sure that it announced 
Lady Florence's death. How she wished over and over 
again that she had not done what she had ! ^^0, if I could 
only see my way clear to send her back to her people ! I 
must think it over ; it will have to be done, but how ? That 
lawyer is cute. If he knew that I was mixed up in the 
affair of the countess he would guess at once ; but how can 
he? I ^m glad that I didnT trust him. Katy was right; 
I was mad to give the countess his address. I must write at 
once, for he will be expecting a letter in a week. By that 
time Jerry^s mother will be there and in possession of the 
child. I must send him on the wrong track. 0, Tom, 
Tom, what will you say when you know all this? Will 
you ever forgive me, my love, my love?’^ 

She wrote to Mr. Bridgewell that Mrs. Eeynolds and 
her servant, Mrs. Martin, had returned to Australia over 
a month ago, and had so apprised the countess. Mrs. 
Eeynolds had asked her, the writer, to open any letters that 
might come for her after her departure, and having 
done so in this instance she had been greatly shocked 
to find that it announced ' the death of the Countess de 
Pascalina, who, she believed, was a relative of the 
Eeynoldses. Their address in Australia v/as N’o. 7 Sidney 
street, Melbourne, where he could write and give them the 
sad news ; signing herself Amelia Sanford (Mrs.), hTo. — 
Clinton Avenue, Brooklyn, 'N. She mailed the letter 
herself and awaited results with great anxiety. She had 
not mentioned the child to him, for she thought it best not 
to seem to know too much about the countess and the 
Eeynoldses, not knowing what kind of letter had been sent 
him. 

Mr. Bridgewell received her letter in due time, not 
suspecting in the least that it came from Miss Hogg; and 
he wrote to Mr. Eeynolds in Australia, asking if his 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


411 


daughter was to be sent back to him or to a boarding 
school, and quietly awaited the answer; he felt no interest, 
in the matter. He had been surprised to receive a letter 
from the governess employed by the countess, stating that 
the countess was dead, and that she, the governess, had 
found his address as follows: ^^Mrs. Eeynolds, care of 
Mrs. Martin, Clinton Avenue, Brooklyn, IST. and that 
she knew that Mrs. Eeynolds was related to the young lady, 
and he, being a law 3 ^er, she thought it better to place the 
matter in his hands, as the countess, before her death, had 
instructed her to do; and though he had been surprised 
that the countess, of whom he had never heard, should 
have his address, still, as he was a lawyer of some repute, 
she might have heard of him. So he answered at once 
that he would write to Mrs. Eeynolds in America. He 
had done so, and on learning that they had left for 
Australia he wrote there at once and leisurely awaited 
the answer. Had he known that Miss Hogg was at the 
bottom of it he would not have allojved the grass to grow 
under his feet; he would soon have been in a position to 
claim the large reward. Had he only gone to the countess 
how soon he would have unraveled the mystery! But as 
no fees had been* sent, he took no trouble in the matter. 
But as time passed and no answer came to his letter, after 
waiting a month over the time required to receive one, 
and the return of his own letter marl^ed ^^No one of the 
name of Eeynolds at given address,^^ he thought it strange; 
and also that the governess had not written again, though 
he had forgotten to inform her that the Eeynoldses had 
returned to Australia. He wrote at once to the governess 
and received an answer from the housekeeper stating that 
the governess had left as soon as the young lady had been 
removed by her old nurse, Mrs. Martin, and that she had 
n(5 idea where she had gone. As for the young lady, she 
had returned to Australia nearly three months ago. 

The lawyer was puzzled; he had never before had to 
do with such queer business ; sometimes he thought he had 
been made a fool of; then he would read the governess’s 
letter; that was genuine and to the point and looked 
honest ; then he would read the American letter and ponder 
over it, and would conclude that it was not frank; it told 
him that Mrs. Martin had returned to Australia with 


412 


MISS HOGG 


her mistress, but not a word was said about the countess’s 
niece. It looked to him to be too disinterested in that 
quarter to be true. Then the housekeeper’s letter said 
that Mrs. Martin had taken the child back to Australia; 
if that was true she had not gone there previously; there 
was a screw loose somewhere, for the letters did not agree. 
However, it did not concern him ; still, he felt curious about 
the matter and promised himself to unravel this mystery 
later on, as he was too busy just at present; but to begin 
with, he would ask his bookseller to get him a directory 
of Brooklyn, Hew York; he must know who really lived 
at Ho. — Clinton avenue. Hearly three weeks elapsed 
before he received the book. He took it home; and after 
making himself comfortable he opened the directory to see 
who lived at Ho. — Clinton avenue, when he read ^^Hogg, 
Mrs.” ^^Well, my lady, you ’re a clever one, but you made 
a mistake when you gave my address to the countess ; what 
your motives were in doing it is beyond me ; but I have 
always observed that let people be ever so clever there is 
always a weak point in their plans that eventually brings 
them to grief ; and your weak point. Miss Hogg, has been 
to give my address. And I think she must have known 
it, for she has not trusted me but has sent me on a wrong 
track, and if I had n’t written again to the governess and 
received my letter back from Australia all would have been 
right with her. She has gained time, however, and a good 
long time; it must be four months since I received that 
letter from the governess — plenty of time for Miss Hogg 
to have found another hiding place for the young lady. 
Still, I am going to make some move in the matter; the 
reward is large and worth trying for. I must find that 
Walgrave and Mathew that had the case when I got that 
four thousand pounds from Lady Montgomery for the 
clever young lady. How I am going to work on the other 
tack and it will go hard with me if I don’t succeed. I ’ll 
get so much proof against her that she will have to tell 
where Lady Florence is. You’ve put your foot in it 
this time. Miss Flogg. I feel the detective fever in me, and 
I ’m going in for it.” 

He wrote to the chief of Scotland Yard asking him to 
send him Walgrave and Mathew as soon as possible, 
didn’t know that Walgrave had left the force. ^^How,” 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


413 


said he, shall have the two detectives at my office the 
first thing to-morrow morning/^ and he retired thinking 
of the big reward and the great name he was going to 
make for himself. He had succeeded where two of the 
most clever detectives had failed, and he felt himself a 
big man, with his name in all the newspapers. 

The next day when he entered his office he found 
Mathew waiting to see him. Mr. Bridgewell took him into 
his private office, and closing the door he laughingly said to 
Mathew, have found Lady Florence.^^ 

Mathew looked at him, and only said, ^^Have you ? Are 
you not the lawyer who got four thousand pounds from 
Lady Montgomery for your client. Miss Hogg ? Have you 
turned against her, and do you want to betray her? I 
suppose you have known all along where the young lady 
was and that it will be very easy for you to lead us to her 
and so gain the reward for yourself. Is that why you 
have sent for me, Mr. Bridgewell? What do you want 
me to do ? Where is the young lady 

The lawyer had been so surprised by Mathew^s accusa- 
tion of conspiracy with Miss Hogg that he had been unable 
to interrupt him ; he had never expected to be looked upon 
as an accomplice. At last he said, ^Tndeed, Mr. Mathew, 
you wrong me. I did get damages for Miss Hogg, it is 
true; she stated her case to me as an injured party, and 
as no proof could be brought against her, as you well know, 
since you yourself failed to prove the young lady to be 
Lady Florence, I got the money for her, but I have never 
seen her since that day, and she never gave me her con- 
fidence, so that I am not betraying it, as you suppose; it 
is only by chance that I have found out where Lady 
Florence has been all these years, for it is nearly five 
years since she disappeared.^^ 

^W^ell, if I have wronged you, Mr. Bridgewell, I 
apologize. Pray explain yourself,^^ said Mathew, throwing 
himself back in his chair, ready to listen to what the lawyer 
had to say. AVhen he had heard all that the reader already 
knows he asked, ^^What do you propose to do and how 
can I help you? I am at your service.^^ 

^^Well, Mr. Mathew, donT you think that it will be 
best to go to America, face the brazen baggage, and make 
her tell where the young lady is 


414 


MISS HOGG 


sir^ I do not; you don’t know Miss Hogg; she’s 
as slippery as an eel; she would have the laugh on us. 
My advice is that we get all the proof we can from the 
late countess’s servants and the young lady’s governess; 
then, having all the proofs in our hands, we can face her 
and bring an action against her.” 

^^Well, Mr. Mathew, I agree with you, for we have 
no ordinary woman to deal with. You will have to go 
and hunt the proofs, for I can’t leave my business here; 
it is my busy time.” 

^^All right, sir. Will you show me the American 
letter ?” 

^^Here it is; what do you make of it?” 

H make this of it — ^that it is Miss Hogg’s writing; 
at least I think so, for it is the same writing as the 
addresses I found in Jerry’s cottage, which must have 
been written by her. Take great care of that letter; we 
may want it yet. I am going to Yaples, and I shall follow 
whatever clew I can find there, and will write to you and 
let you know how I get on.” 

Mathew left him, to go and report to his chief and 
to take his orders. 

^What !” he exclaimed, when told, ^That Miss Hogg 
again ! I really thought we were done with her ; she made 
a wreck of Walgrave, a true and upright gentleman; she 
turned the tables on him and disgraced him, poor fellow ! 
Take care, Mathew, that she does n’t do the same to you. 
She must be the very devil himself.” 

^^There ’s no danger for me, captain,” answered Mr. 
Mathew. ^Hf Walgrave had n’t fallen in love with her 
all would have been well, but I ne\er saw a man so gone 
on a woman as he was on her; as you say, she wrecked 
his life. T believe he loves her still after all these ^^ears; 
she must have bewitched him, the flirt ! The devil take 
her for all the trouble she has brought on him and on 
Lady Montgomery’s family !” 

^^Amen,” said the captain, ^fiet him have her, with 
my blessing to boot. You, Mathew, had better leave for 
jSTaples to-morrow, and see what you can do in the matter; 
you know with whom you have to deal, so that you are the 
best man to send there, and I wish you success with that 
American title-hnnter, — the devil take them all ! Why 


AlMERiOA^T HEIR12SS 


415 


England is full of them; in summer time , one canH go 
into a respectable hotel without hearing guess’ and ‘I 
reckon/ and ^0, my heart, but you ’re a peach !’ all around 
you ; and the loud ha, ha, ha ! of the women makes a 
true English gentleman’s blood run cold. Why can’t they 
stay in their own country and marry, yes, marry men 
of their own class, and not come here to mix their vulgar 
blood with that of some of the best families here, and inter- 
fere with our politics too. If a stop is n’t put to it they will 
in time try to upset the government ; have a republic here, 
and ruin our country as they have their own, which would 
be a grand place if they had a different government. 
All the money goes in electioneering and filling the pockets 
of a few, and the few soon get to be millionaires, while 
business men go to ruin, never being sure of the morrow, as 
the government changes so often. There ’s no stability in 
business, and they would wish us to imitate them. God 
preserve us from such a calamity ! God save the queen, 
and preserve every crowned head! But I am getting 
excited; I always do when I- compare our government to 
theirs, for what they need in America is a good head, 
and they don’t seem able to find one. And if they did get 
one, they wouldn’t allow it time to improve the country. 
There is always another one undermining the would-be 
reformer and ready to jump into his shoes as his time 
expires, and begin another reform of his own. That ’s 
America in a nutshell. But I ’m done, Mathew. Go and 
get ready and leave early to-morrow.” 

^^Yes, sir. I feel as you do towards the title-hunters, 
and Miss Hogg will find no mercy at my hands.” 

Having made his preparations, the thought occurred 
to him to go and see Walgrave on his way; he could take 
passage from Southampton to Havre, or Germany, and 
get to Haples by way of Southampton as well as by any 
other port, and he longed to see how Walgrave would take 
the news of the discovery that Lawyer Bridgewell had 
made about Lady Florence. Mathew was certainly taking 
a wrong step there — telling a man that he was on his way 
to hunt down a woman he loved. It was evident that 
Mathew had never had a grand passion or he would have 
understood human nature better. If Walgrave still loved 
Miss Hogg after all the insults she had heaped upon him, 


416 MISS mm 

was he likely to rejoice at her downfall, punishment, and 
disgrace ? 

He found Walgrave sitting in his garden reading the 
paper; a large, black Newfoundland dog lay at his feet. 
Walgrave looked sad but resigned; not so careworn as when 
we saw him last. He was pleased to see Mathew, but when 
he heard what had brought him there he turned pale for 
a moment and then listened with avidity to all that Mathew 
knew, after telling which Mathew asked him if he would 
go with him, telling him that the voyage would do him 
good. Walgrave had taken it all so calmly that Mathew 
had ventured the proposition. ^^Of course I don’t ask you 
to take any part in the business,” he added, ^^though by this 
time you must be cured of your infatuation and only 
remember the wrong she has done you.” 

^^My dear Mathew, I agree with you; I have been a 
fool ; love is madness, and I have had these symptoms of it 
in the most dangerous form. I am at peace now, and have 
no wish to revive past events, so that I must decline going 
with you. At the same time, I thank you for your well- 
meant offer. Go, my friend, and do your duty; you are 
paid for it ; but as for me, I wrong no one if I refuse to be 
a party to this affair; it would be painful to me to see 
you gather proof after proof to condemn the woman 
I once loved. No, mv friend, I will not go with you. 
When do you leave ?” 

^^To-night at twelve, by way of Prance.” 

^^All right; you will dine with me; then we will say 
good-by for the present, for I promised to meet some friends 
to-night, not knowing that you were coming. You will 
not feel slighted, will you ?” 

^^Certainly not, Mr. Walgrave; and I am pleased to see 
you looking better than you did the last time we met. 
Shall I write to let you know of my progress ?” 

^^No, Mathew, no; I would rather not know.” 

Very soon dinner was announced and Walgrave looked 
bright and almost happy. There was a light in -his eyes 
that proved that he had not lost all his energy. Mathew 
was agreeably surprised and said, ^^You would be all right 
if you saw more company; you live too much alone, my 
friend.” 


AMERICAN HEIRESS M 

^^Eight again, my friend ; that the reason that I 
going out to-night/^ 

what time do you leave here?^^ 

^^At eight, or thereabouts/^ 

^^Well, it ^s past seven now, so I ^11 be going ; good-by. 
Won’t you wish me success?” 

shall wish you neither success nor failure, my 
friend ; use your own cleverness in the matter. My wishes 
can do you but little good, but I wish you safely back 
with all my heart; good-by.” 

They parted at the gate with a friendly handshake; 
but no sooner had Mathew disappeared than Walgrave 
seemed to have grown ten years younger ; with head thrown 
back and eyes flashing, he re-entered the cottage, and, going 
up to his room, he packed his portmanteau, and, calling 
his housekeeper, he said, have to go away quite unex- 
pectedly; I may be gone a month or more. Take care of 
the dog and the birds. I ’ll let you know when I ’m com- 
ing back.” 

^^Where shall I say that you have gone, sir, should any- 
one inquire after you?” asked the housekeeper, curiously. 

^^No one will inquire about me, and you know it ; keep 
your mouth shut, you old cat, for if I hear that you have 
been gossiping you lose your place here;” and he walked 
out of the house, taking leave of his dog at the gate, the 
poor dog crying piteously. ^Toor Carlo, poor Carlo,” 
said Walgrave, love you, but I love Mamie better. God 
grant that I may arrive in time to save her. 0, Mamie, 
my love, it would be my death to see you publicly dis- 
graced. Ah, Mathew, we are still working against each 
other; is it our destiny? Who shall win, you or I?” 

He hurried to the railway station and got a ticket for 
Liverpool, and on arriving there early the next morning 
his first inquiries were for the steamer that left for Hew 
York or Boston, but he was told that one had left at 
midnight and that another would not leave for two days. 
0, the thought was maddening ! Two days lost ! What 
could not Mathew do in two days? Poor Walgrave lost 
his temper as he used to do, but to no purpose; he had 
to wait, and in looking over the hotel register he saw the 
name of Lord Montgomery; he had been in this very 
hotel, and quite recently, too, only the day previous. The 


418 


Mtss mm 


perspiration ran down his face; he felt faint. Why had 
he been there? His detective instinct told him it was to 
hunt down Miss Hogg. Mathew had gone to get proofs^ 
and Lord Montgomery had gone to America to have her 
watched, and must have gone the night before by the 
steamer that had left at midnight. He must make sure. 
After drinking a glass of wine he inquired of the clerk 
and was told that Lord Montgomery had come the night 
previous just in time to catch the American steamer, and 
that he was surprised that he had written his name in 
the visitors^ book, having stayed there only an hour; it 
was not customary; but perhaps he wanted to leave a 
record of his having been in this hotel in case of accident 
during the voyage. 

Walgrave allowed the clerk to talk to his heart’s 
content; he was deathly pale; his head was on fire. 0, 
he had not expected this; he had hoped to reach ISTew York 
before Mathew could gather proofs enough to necessitate 
the sending of a telegram, but he never expected to find 
Lord Montgomery between Miss Hogg and himself, and, 
of course, detectives at work employed by him. Poor 
W^algrave, had not his hair been gray already it would have 
become so while he was waiting for the next steamer. 

At last the day came, and he found himself on board, 
steaming away on what seemed to him the slowest steamer 
that he had ever been in. He would get there too late — 
he knew it — he would only make matters worse ; he would 
be supposed to be Miss Hogg’s accomplice, and that would 
be another disgrace. 0, why did he always appear in a 
false light, he who felt that he was honest and honorable? 
He was not going now to help her to hide her crime, but 
to beg of her to send back the child before any exposure 
took place. He would take it upon himself to make' things 
right with Lady Montgomery. 0, if he could only have 
arrived in time she could have been saved ! How came 
Lord Montgomery to have heard of the discovery made by 
the lawyer? Had he already communicated with him? 
If so, Mathew did not know it or he would have mentioned 
it to him. He also thought of his former voyage when 
Miss Hogg was on board, and how he had hoped to gain 
her love, and when he thought he had secured it how 
happy he was ! He had not the remotest hope of gaining 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


419 


her love now; if he could only save her it was all he 
wanted. To see her happy would bring him happinesS;, 
and to see her hunted and disgraced would break his heart 
anew. His love was the love of an honest man; not a 
particle of selfishness in it. How Miss Hogg could have 
inspired such love in a man like Walgrave is beyond 
comprehension. Love is a mystery, and is not always given 
according to merit. 

At the end of eight days the steamer arrived in 
America. Walgrave was one of the first to reach the pier. 
He called a cab and directed the driver to take him to the 
Hoggs^ mansion in Fifth avenue. We will leave him on 
his way there, return to Miss Hogg and see what she has 
been doing during the four months that have elapsed since 
she received the news of the countesses death. 


480 


MISS HOGG 


CHAPTER LVII. 

After the reading of that letter Miss Hogg felt so 
anxious and depressed that she could not remain in the 
city under the eyes of her father and of her friends, who 
believed her to be ill, and she really was very ill; her 
mental suffering was great. Plan as she might she could 
not see her way out of this unfortunate affair without 
scandal and exposure; the whole world would resound 
with it; she would lose Tom, who was becoming dearer 
to her every day. She had no one to advise her, for Katy, 
with whom she would often discuss the subject, Avas now 
married and a sedate woman who loved her husband and 
child, and she agreed with Jerry’s mother, so that she had 
everything to make her happy; the only shadow was the 
past deed, and she had often reproached herself for having 
helped her mistress to steal the child. And Jerry and his 
mother had been entrapped into the business by Miss 
Hogg, so that they all seemed to be quite as guilty as 
herself, if not more so, and they all lived in daily fear 
of discovery. 

When the black letter had come to her mother-in-law 
it had sent a thrill of horror through Katy, and with a 
heart-rending cry she had fainted, and it was more than 
an hour before she showed signs of returning consciousness, 
and then she sobbed bitterly, and pressed her boy to her 
heart, saying, ^^0, they will part us when they know that 
I helped to kill her for she thought it was Lady Florence 
who had died, and the telegram she received later relieved 
her mind greatly; still, she lived in fear, knowing that 
sooner or later all would be discovered. When Mamie told 
her that Mrs. Jerry had gone to fetch Lady Florence and 
was going to bring her to the farm, she had a relapse, and 
it was feared that fever would set in. As for Jerry, he 
was at his wits’ end, and never for a moment ceased to 
regret having had a hand in the business. Ko kindness of 
hers could bring them peace of mind, and a terrible punish- 
ment was sure to follow. And to have Lady Florence at 


THE AMEiUCAH HEIRESS 


421 


the farm ! Wh}^, it was madness ! What would the Russells 
say ? They would never help Miss Hogg to hide the child ; 
he said so in one of their conferences, and she had ex- 
claimed, ‘^^0, my heart, but you Te a goose ! Do you think 
that I ^m going to tell anyone who she is? We call her 
Isabelle. Well, my mother told her people that she had 
adopted a fair little girl, and very naturally they will 
think she is the one.^^ 

^‘^But suppose Mrs. Hogg should come here and see 
the child — we would all be lost,^^ said Katy. 

^^0, my mother is nT coming here for a while ; father 
wonT let her."^^ 

^^And when the true Isabelle comes back, what then?’^ 
said Jerry. 

^^0, it wonT be for a good while yet, for I told ma 
that as she was learning so well it would be a pity to 
take her away.^^ 

^‘^0, Mamie, if you would only listen to reason and tell 
Mr. Tom everything he would make it right, for he loves 
you,^^ said Katy with tears in her eyes. ^^And think of the 
shame and ruin that you will bring upon us all. My boy 
here will one day be ashamed of his mother. What I 
thought fun some years ago does nT seem like fun to me 
now. We would all be happy but for this miserable secret, 
and it is poisoning your own life, too, Mamie ; you are not 
the same bright, happy girl that you were, and you know 
it.^^ 

^^Yes, I know it, but I don’t see any way out of it. If 
I tell Tom he will despise me and I shall lose him; he 
would never believe in me again. I can’t, 0, I can’t tell 
him ! not now, at least. Let us wait and hear what Jerry’s 
mother will say when she comes back.” 

Mrs. Jerry did come back safely without having ex- 
perienced any obstacles, for she was known to the late 
countess’s servants ; and after having settled matters with 
the governess and housekeeper she left with the young lady, 
and arrived safely in Hew York. Mrs. Jerry, as we may 
again call her, hurried to a quiet hotel uptown, directing 
her luggage to the farm, and ordered refr^hments served 
in a private room, where they remained until a train left for 
the west. Hot knowing Miss Hogg’s plans, she had no 
wish to be seen with the child by anyone she kne^v, who 


422 


MISS HOGG 


would naturally ask who she was. She was very anxious 
and full of fear, and Lady Florence asked her more than 
once of she was ill, for she loved her nurse Mary, as she 
had been taught to call her, and the answer had perplexed 
the child, as it had been, ^^Yes, miss. 0, my head is 
spinning like a wheel ; I donH know whether I ^m standing 
on my head or my heels. 0, my dear young lady, I am 
in great trouble and tears ran down her cheeks. 

Lady Florence had put her arms round her neck and 
said, ^^DonH cry, nurse; kiss me, and if 3 ^ou are not too 
ill let us go for a walk. I see a nice park down there; 
let us go in as we have to wait so long for the train.^^ 
Mrs. Jerry had kissed her affectionately, and thought, 
^ Jdow could I have helped to wrong that darling T’ but she 
onh^ said, ^^We would not have time to go to Central Park ; 
we might miss our train ; but I hope to take you there some 
day and show you the wild animals ; there are a good many 
of them, and birds too.^^ And the child had said no more, 
but, seated by the window, looked at the people as they 
passed to and from the park, the nurses with their white 
caps and aprons, and good-sized little girls with white caps 
looking very much like an English nightcap, and cloaks 
reaching to their feet. 

When it was time for them to leave the hotel Mrs. Jerry 
covered Lady Florence's face with a thick veil, and also 
wore one herself. Then they left the hotel and were soon 
at the Grand Central Depot at Forty-second street. They 
reached the farm in due time, taking care to arrive after 
dark so as not to meet anyone who might ask embarrassiiig 
questions. Miss Hogg was there and kissed and hugged the 
child, for she had learned to love her dearly, and she mur- 
mured, ^^0, and to think that she will learn to hate me one 
(lay! and through my own fault it is this beautiful child 
who stands between me and happiness.’^ 

Lady Florence saw that there was something very 
strange in Miss Hogg^s actions, for she was very intelligent, 
and had traveled a great deal with the countess, and she 
remembered something of her past life, though she never 
spoke of it. Still, the time would come when she would re- 
quire an explanation. She was nearly thirteen years old — 
very tall for her age — taller than Katyor Mrs. Jerry. A nice 
room had been prepared for her, to whic^h Miss Hogg con- 


ITHE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


423 


ducted her ; they had a long talk together and when they 
parted they were both in tears; Miss Hogg's last words 
to her were, ^‘^You must not tell anyone, dear; it would 
be my death/' 

won't, Mamie, trust me ; but we must talk the matter 
over when you come back." 

^^Yes, dear ; how I wish you were a little older, then you 
would understand me better." 

am old for my age, Mamie, and I have known all 
along that I am not in my right place. I am glad that you 
have relieved my mind on some points. Good-by, Mamie, 
and don't cry ; I 'll never say a word to hurt you." 

Miss Hogg, after more kisses and more tears, which 
greatly relieved her, rejoined the Jerry s, who were surprised 
to see her eyes red with crying. She said, ^^How, Katy, 
[ am going home, and I will send the best piano I can find 
for Isabelle, and I will also send a governess; and you 
must let the Eussells think that she is our Isabelle. I 
dare not stay, for I am afraid that they would read in my 
face that I am deceiving them. I will come back when 
they have seen her." 

The next day she went back to Hew York, leaving 
the Jerry s to work more deceit on the Eussells, and sink- 
ing deeper and deeper into sin. 

The same day that Mamie had returned to Hew York, 
at about nine o'clock in the morning, Tom was on his way 
to his office, and as he passed Mamie's house he saw a 
beautiful, fair-haired young lady in the front garden; 
he opened the gate and walked in, smilingly, thinking, 
^^This is the little girl that my Aunt Sophy adopted some 
years ago ; I must speak to her." Her back was turned to 
him, yet he could see how graceful and elegant was her 
every motion ; her beautiful golden curls reaching to her 
waist. Hearing his footsteps she turned and faced him; 
he stood still for a moment ; then, raising his hat, he bowed 
to her as if she had been a grown-up young lady. He had 
never seen such a beauty. What splendid blue eyes ! V\7'hat a 
complexion of lilies and roses ! What aristocratic features ! 
^^Why," thought Tom, ^^she might be a princess, for none 
could be more beautiful and elegant than she is. Ho 
wonder my aunt loves her. And to think that anyone could 


424 


MISS Moaa 


have abandoned such a child ! She has good blood in her 
veins, anyone can see that/^ 

She advanced towards him, saying, ^^Yon are Mr. Tom 
Enssell, I believe. Yon look surprised at seeing me here; 
did nT Mamie tell you that I was coming 

she did not. I suppose you are her sister 

Isabelle.^^ 

am called Isabelle,^^ she replied with a slight blush, 
thought so,^^ said Tom. suppose Mamie wanted 
to give me a surprise; she has been successful. Where is 
she — in the house 

^^No, she left for Yew York this morning before I was 
up, for I came last night.^^ 

^^What! Mamie gone without a word to me — not a 
good-by 

^^She will not be gone long, Mr. Eussell; she has gone 
to buy a piano and get a governess for me so that I can go 
on with my studies.^^ Tom was more and more amazed as 
he heard her speak, for this was not the talk of a dependent, 
but more of a grand lady accustomed to have her owm way 
as a right, not as a favor; and it came so natural to her, 
and she said it in such a sweet, pleasant voice. Tom wished 
her good morning, and said he would call for her, on his 
way back from his office, to take her to see his mother and 
sisters ; they would all be pleased to see her ; he would call 
at five. He asked her if Aunt Sophy had come too. 

^^Yo one has come with me, Mr. Eussell.^^ And Tom saw 
for the second time the rosy tint come into her cheeks, 
which puzzled him not a little, for what had he said to 
make her blush ? He went away with his thoughts full of 
Isabelle and her strange ways; for he did think her ways 
were strange for a child who had been taken by his aunt 
from a home, and yet her grand air was becoming to her; 
there w’^as no arrogance, no false pride; her manners were 
perfectly natural; she seemed born to them, to feel that 
she was a lady, and Tom had to admit that he felt it too. 
Without being able to account for fit, he had spoken to her 
as if she were his superior, not a child living on the bounty 
of his aunt. He wished more than once that closing time 
had come so that he might take her to his people ; he wanted 
to see what impression she would make on them. 

But why had not his aunt come with her? She was 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


425 


SO fond of her, how could she part with her so soon after 
her arrival? She must have arrived lately, for they had 
not heard Mamie mention her: and that reminded him 
that the girl had said, “^^Yes, I am called Isabelle,’^ as if 
it was not really her name. ^‘^Aunt Sophy did n^t tell us 
what her other name was, and I don^t think anyone asked, 
for we felt very little interest in the child except for my 
aunt’s sake. I must find out to-night.” 

On his way home Tom called at the farm, and was 
pleased to see that Isabelle was ready to accompany him. 
Ivaty came into the room, and told him to take good care 
of her and to bring her back himself, not to send her 
b}^ any of the servants; and this he promised, wondering 
at the great respect shown by Katy to his aunt’s protegee. 
^‘^Her governess will be here soon,” Katy continued, ^To 
accompany her wherever she gods, but until then I am 
responsible for her, you understand, Mr. Tom.” Katy 
had a serious, uneasy look that Tom could not understand, 
but he promised that he and his sisters would bring her 
back. And so Lady Florence went to make the ac- 
quaintance of the Bussells. 

John had just returned from school, having been kept 
in that afternoon, and as he turned to close the door he 
saw Tom coming down the avenue with a young lady by 
his side, and he called out to Mary at the top of his voice, 
^^Mary, come here and look ; Tom is bringing another sweet- 
heart. I wonder if he ’ll kiss her hand too. 0 what a fool 
I was not to see how matters stood between them ; I won’t 
be so blind this time. But this is quite a young lady in 
short skirts. Why don’t you come and see ?” and he rushed 
into the kitchen swinging his books over his head by the 
strap, and very nearly knocking down the tray of newly- 
made bread that his mother was carrying out of the 
kitchen. 

^^What is the matter with you, John? Ko wonder 
you’re kept in school if you behave there as you do at 
home. What do you want with Mary? She’s not here; 
she ’s in the garden with Julia.” 

only wanted to tell her that Tom is coming down thq 
avenue with a young lady.” 

^^0; is he, and do you know the lady ?” 


426 


MISS HOGG 


I don’t; but you’d better hide that bread in case 
they come right in here.” 

’ll do nothing of the kind, my boy,” said Mrs. 
Eussell, laughingly ; ’m not at all ashamed of my bread ; 
on the contrary, I’m proud of it; it looks appetizing;” 
and she placed it on the pantry shelf. 

John ran away to make himself presentable before 
going into the dining room, where he knew they had gone, 
for he could hear the old people and his sisters talking. 

Tom, after introducing Isabelle to his grandparents and 
his sisters, had left them and gone in search of his mother 
to tell her the news and what a lovely girl Isabelle was. 

^'^Why,” said his mother, ^^you are not going to fall 
in love with her as you did with Mamie at first sight, are 
you ?” 

‘^^iSTo, mother; Isabelle is too grand for me; she looks 
like a princess.” 

^*^0, come now, Tom, that ’s too strong when you know 
where your aunt got her from; I only hope she will not 
repent of it, for it is so seldom that these children turn 
out right, especially when they’re good looking.” 

^^0, come, mother, you won’t think so when you see 
her ; she ’s simply perfect ; I have never seen her equal 
anywEere.” And Mrs. Eussell, taking off her apron and 
dusting the flour from her sleeves, went with Tom to the 
dining room, and was struck dumb with surprise at the 
vision of loveliness that met her eyes; it was not only 
her beauty that astonished her, but her grand air. She 
was talking to the old people as if she had known them 
all her life; there was neither shyness nor boldness, but 
perfect ease; had she just left boarding school she could 
never have had that calm composure which made her be- 
havior so perfect ; but having lived with the countess, who 
was a grand old lady, she had learned her ways and ease of 
manner, which had come easy and natural to her, having 
been born in that sphere of life, and with her mixed blood 
of French and English, for it will be remembered that her 
father was the Count Ee La Eochefoucauld, a member of 
the French aristocracy^ and her mother the sister of Lady 
Montgomery, a real blue blood of England; so it is no 
wonder that with her birth, training, and beauty combined 
she made the impression she did on the Bussells^ who be- 


AMERICAN HEIRESS 


42t 

lieved her to be the adopted child of Mrs. Hogg. They 
had been told that she was fair and pretty^ but they had 
not been told to expect such a grand creature as now 
appeared before them. Bach of the Kussells in turn was 
impressed with the same feeling of respect towards her, yet 
her ways were free from pride and superiority towards 
them ; she showed great respect to the old people and talked 
freely to the young ones. John was very shy with her; 
he, who always had so much to say, blushed and stammered 
when she addressed him, which she did repeatedly to make 
him feel at ease. 

Mrs. Eussell, when introduced to her, had kissed her 
forehead and said, ^^Welcome to Eussell farm, my dear,^^ 
and she had answered, ^^Thank you, madam, for your kind 
welcome; I Kke your farm; it reminds me of one I knew 
long ago;’^ and again the color mounted to her face. 
Tom noticed it and it puzzled him. 

Mary and Julia had helped to take off her lovely broad- 
brimmed, gray felt hat, with a long white feather, and 
lined with rose-colored satin — and her pretty gray jacket; 
her dress was also gray, trimmed with satin the same as 
the hat, and she wore a broad sash ribbon around her 
slender waist, tied in a large bow at the back, the ends 
’reaching to the hem of her pretty dress; her hair was 
tied back with a rose-colored ribbon, making a pretty bow 
on the top of her lovely head, and giving a delicate tint 
to her cheeks. A diamond pin was at her throat, which 
was encircled with fine white lace, as were also her wrists. 
Her hands were white and small, and her pretty gray silk 
boots and stockings, which could be seen, as she was still 
in short skirts, disclosed a tiny foot and beautifully shaped 
ankle. Ho wonder that she made an impression on all 
the Eussells, and that they all agreed that they had never 
before seen such a beauty. 

Mary and Julia took her in to tea and seated her 
between them, with Tom opposite, who played the gallant 
to perfection. John would have liked to do the same but 
he felt shy, as nearly all boys of his age do. Mr. Eussell 
often spoke to her, and she answered him with a composure 
that surprised him. He said once, ^^What^s your name, 
my child and she had answered, H am called Isabelle 
Eeynolds,^^ and the same rosy tint had suffused her face 


MISS HOGG 


428 

once more. very pretty name^ my dear/' he had replied, 
wishing to put her at her ease; tor having seen the blush, 
he thought, ^Toor child, she must feel her position,’^ and 
could account for the blush, but he could not account for 
the toss of the head that had come after the blush. 

She had promised Miss Hogg not to tell the Eussells 
for the present who she was, as it would ruin her happiness, 
for she was to marry Tom, but to allow them all to call 
her Isabelle Eeynolds for a short time. Miss Hogg had 
explained a great many things to her the night of her 
arrival at the farm, which had refreshed Lady Florence’s 
memory in regard to many occurrences in her past life. 
She had always remembered her dying mother and the 
tall dark lady who had come to fetch her and had taken 
her to a country where only English was spoken, not French, 
to which she had been used. The dark lady had said that 
she was her aunt, and she had been very happy with her, 
and a dark young gentleman whom she called her cousin. 
All these things she remembered ; but how Miss Hogg had 
come into her life, and why she had taken her away, were 
mysteries to her, for she no longer believed that gypsies 
would steal her. Miss Hogg had been very kind to her and 
seemed to love her dearly, and she returned that love. She 
had been told that the Countess de Pascalina was related 
to her, but she had always doubted it, and when Mrs. 
Martin, her nurse, had come to fetch her after the 
countess’s death, and had found her dressed in deep mourn- 
ing, she had made her take it off as soon as they had arrived 
at a hotel. In fact, she often felt puzzled, and since the 
half confession that Miss Hogg had made to her she felt 
still more mystified. Miss Hogg would have to explain; 
she felt that an explanation was due to her, and Miss Hogg 
had promised her one, but had asked her to wait a short 
time longer or it would break her heart, and she had sobbed 
as if it were already broken, and that made Lady Florence 
cry, and promise willingly not to tell the Eussells her real 
name; but her noble nature rebelled against the part 
she was playing; she could not say, ^^My name is Isabelle 
Eeynolds,” but am called Isabelle Eeynolds,” which set 
Tom thinking, for he saw her proud head go up, and he 
could see that it was not shame that had made her blush; 
but what was it? 


•THB AMBRtOAK ITRIRBSS 429 

Mrs. Eussell soon asked her^ ^^How did yon leave- yonr 
mother, my dear ; was she well, and why did she not come 
with yon?'''’ 

^^My mother died when I was qnite yonng, madam.'’^ 
know, child; I mean Mrs. Hogg, Mamie^s mother; 
for of conrse yon call her mother f and her answer sonnded 
strange as she replied : 

‘^1 have been traveling with the conntess lately, and 
thongh Mamie has often come to see me, I have not been 
introdnced to any member of her family nntil now.'^^ 

The Rnssells looked at each other, not knowing what 
to make of it. Conld two or three years at a boarding 
school have made her forget Mrs. Hogg? ISTo; they all 
felt that there was a mystery, bnt they were too honorable 
to qnestion the child, thongh her answer had thrown a clond 
over them all. 


430 


MISS HOGG 


CHAPTEE LVIII. 

After tea they all returned to the drawing-room, leav- 
ing the servant to clear the table alone that night. Julia 
asked Isabelle if she played the piano. Her eyes opened 
wide at the question and she answered, have taken lessons 
of the best masters;^’ and she walked to the piano, Tom 
following her, and opening it for her. She played piece 
after piece, sad and gay, such as they had never heard 
before, and, selecting an Italian song, she sang it with 
as pure an accent as a prima donna ; it was wonderful for 
one so young. Then she sang a German song from memory, 
then a French one, and they were all astonished. 

^^How purely you pronounce Freneh,^^ said the old 
lady. 

^Tt is my native tongue, madam; my father was 
French; I was born in France.^^ 

‘^^Why, I thoughP^ — began the old lady, then stopped 
short. 

Lady Florence saw that she had done wrong to speak 
of her father, when she saw the look of astonishment 
written on every face. Miss Hogg had asked her not to 
mention her name to them, but she had not told her that 
she would be impersonating a foundling — and she had kept 
her promise ; she had not told her real name. She did 
not know that Miss Hogg had an adopted sister ; she knew 
nothing of Mrs. Hogg; had never seen her; all the people 
she knew were the Jerrys and Katy, besides Miss Hogg; 
still, she felt that ^he was in a false position, so she replied, 
^^You seem surprised ; perhaps Mamie has not told you, but 
she will some day, and in the meantime we wonT speak 
about myself any more;^^ and, turning to Mary, she said, 
^‘'You play, donT you?^^ 

^^ISTot like you, my dear;^^ and, going to the piano, 
Mary played and sang a sweet song, Tom and Julia 
taking part in it. They were still at it when the servant 
came to the door, and, when the song was ended, said 
that young Mrs. Jerry had come for the young lady; so 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


431 


Mary and Julia helped Lady Florence with her things, 
and wishing all good night, she went away with Katy, 
Tom seeing them home. As he was leaving he noticed that 
Katy looked unhappy and he told her so. Her answer had 
taken him by surprise; they were alone, the child having 
gone into the house. ^‘^Yes, Mr. Tom, 1 am an unhappy 
woman, and I must say a word to you; I must, whatever 
Mamie says to the contrary; she wonT speak so I must. 
For the love of God, for the love you bear Miss Hogg, if 
you donT want something terrible to happen, donT allow 
anyone to question Isabelle.'’^ 

^‘^What is to be gained by questioning her, Katy? We 
all know v/here she comes from, and we would not pain her 
by any questions as to her past life.^^ 

‘^0, Mr. Tom, you don’t understand, and I can’t 
explain. God help me, I sometimes think I ’m going 
mad !” 

^^Don’t excite yourself,” said Tom, kindly; ^^no harm 
will come to Mamie through me or mine, and we won’t 
question the child. Why should we care who her parents 
were? So don’t fret. Mary is coming for her to-morrow 
to spend the day with us, and if any visitors should call 
we will only introduce her as a young friend of cousin 
Mamie’s. Will that satisfy you?” 

^^Yes, Mr. Tom, it must; good night.” 

She ran in and Tom went home more puzzled than ever. 
He told his people not to say to anyone that Isabelle was 
an adopted child, as his aunt and cousin would n’t care 
to have it known. 

Mary went the next day to fetch Isabelle to dine with 
them, and she was surprised and pleased to find that 
Mamie had returned accompanied by a middle aged lady 
who was to be governess to the young lady. 

^^ell,” said Mary, have come to fetch Isabelle and 
I’m not going back without her; the child must have 
a holiday, so let her governess rest a day or two, and you 
also come with me. Tom will be pleased to find you there 
when he comes back from the office. Why did not Aunt 
Sophy come? is she coming soon?” 

^Well, Mary, ma is not very well, and you know that 
pa does n’t like her to leave him alone.” 

Kq more was said and shQ accoinpanie4 Mary to the 


432 


MISS HOGG 


Bussells^ and after school John showed Lady Florence all 
over the farm; he was losing his shyness, and the two 
children had a pleasant time. John got a pair of Mary’s 
shoes to put over Isabelle’s tiny boots, going about the 
stables. She seemed familiar with all kinds of animals; 
said she could ride, and that many years ago she had a 
white pony. John looked hard at her but said nothing, 
as his brother Tom had said to him, ""Uo matter what the 
young lady says, don’t question her.” He told her that 
Mary or Julia would let her have whichever horse she 
would like to ride; and when Tom came home he found 
John helping Isabelle to take off her shoes. John blushed 
^ when he saw Tom looking at him, but he said, ^^You hurry 
in; Mamie’s there;” and it was Tom’s turn to blush. 
He forgot all about Isabelle when he saw Mamie, for she 
w^as his all. 

Miss Hogg felt much relieved by her cousin’s greeting ; 
it must be that nothing had gone wrong the day before, 
and she again postponed the day of explanation. The 
Bussells did not question her about the child; had she 
volunteered an explanation it would have pleased them, 
but she did not, and always looked embarrassed when a 
chance word was said about her ; they contented themselves 
with admiring her and enjoying her presence. She came 
often to see the Bussells. Mamie almost lived at the farm, 
only going to Hew York now and then for a day or two, 
and sometimes for weeks she would remain at the farm 
except to go for long rides in the country, accompanied 
by Isabelle and some of the Bussells. 

Months had passed since Lady Florence had arrived at 
the farm, and yet nothing had been explained either to her 
or the Bussells. Tom was very urgent about his marriage. 
He had gone to Hew York, and with the help of his aunt 
had made everything right with Mr. Hogg, who said that 
he saw so little of his ^%al” that she might as well be 
married; that she was always at the farm and seemed to 
have forgotten her dad altogether; so that he, Tom, had 
better make her name the day, and that they should have 
a grand wedding that would make everybody talk and 
envy them. Tom was for a quiet wedding, but Mr. Hogg 
would not hear of it, ajid had exclaimed, ^^What do you 
think I have money for, ©h ? My gal shall baYO a wedding 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


433 


that she will remember all her life^ though I never thought 
of giving her to a Eussell; but as she said to me some 
time ago^ ^Why should you find fault with me^ did n’t you 
marry a Eussell yourself, pa?’ and laughed in my face, 
‘and why should n’t I, too, marry a Eussell ?’ I laughed at 
her cuteness as I answered her,^Well,my gal, if your Eussell 
turns out as well as my Eussell did, I won’t complain.’ ” 

^^You may rest assured, Mr. Hogg, that I will do all 
in my powerHo make Mamie happy; we have known each 
other nearly two years, and I don’t see the need of waiting 
any longer.” 

^^Hor do we, my boy; you tell her that her mother and 
I wish to see her married as soon as possible. She must 
come back here and prepare all her folderols; never mind 
the expense.” 

Tom went back west and discussed the matter with his 
cousin, who put him off for a little while longer, and no 
coaxing of his could change her decision; it would only 
bring tears to her eyes, as she replied, ^^Tom, dear Tom, 
wait a month longer;” and poor Tom had moments of 
doubt and sadness. 

After Tom’s departure Mr. Hogg said to his wife, 
^^You had better begin getting things for Mamie and for 
that young one you adopted — much good she is to you, so 
far away; just as if we had no schools here good enough 
for anyone. And now that we are going to lose Mamie 
why not have her back ? She ’s a bright child, and I ’ve 
missed her myself, especially since Mamie has her farm, 
for she ’s never here ; but I ’m no fool ; it ’s not the farm 
that keeps her there, but Tom; and if she’s so mad after 
him, why don’t she marry him ? Then she ’ll have enough 
of him, perhaps too much, in time.” 

^^My dear James, how you do talk! I’m quite sure 
that Mamie will never have cause to repent having married 
Tom Eussell.” 

^^Well, perhaps not ; I hope she ’s not going to play us 
a trick as she did with that detective — what ’s his name ? 
0, yes, Walgrave. What did she do that for? I see no 
sense in it ; it only made people talk, and the less a woman 
is talked about the better it is for her — that kind of talk, 
nt least.” 

to tell you the truth, JameS;^ I don’t quite 


434 


MISS HOGG 


understand Mamie; she certainly loves Tom, and yet she 
puts him off as if she did nT care for him. But I 11 take 
your advice concerning Isabelle. I feel lonely, and I 
wish her to be here for the wedding ; surely it wonT be long 
now before it takes place ; and I tell you what — I ^m not 
going to tell Mamie what we are going to do about it, for 
she has always talked me out of it when I spoke of getting 
Isabelle back.^^ 

^^That ^s right, wife ; it will be a surprise to her ; the 
child must be bridesmaid, and mind you get her togs fit for 
a queen, for I want the whole thing to be peachy and to 
shut the mouths of some of my acquaintances. Why, no 
later than last week there was that barefooted blackguard 
who said to me before a lot of brokers, ^Hello, old Hogg, 
how do you do? You seem to have got fat on the old 
peddler’s pack’ — meaning my father, who began life as 
a peddler, as I have told you before — and they all laughed 
in my face as I said, ^Get out, you blackguard, or I ’ll 
kick you into the middle of next week.’ ^What for?’ said 
Murphy, Tor telling you the truth ? Well, I ’m blest ! I ’m 
not ashamed of my father, why should you be of yours? 
Mine was a gentleman, and never left me a cent, and yours 
Avas a peddler and left you a fortune.’ I often have those 
things thrown into my face. One of the brokers said, 
^Did you hear about such a bank, have you any money in 
it? They say it’s going to fail; the manager has de- 
camped.’ ^What ’s that to do with me ? I was in a bank 
once, but I never decamped, and it ’s all fair and square 
vnth me.’ The devil take them ! They ’re all jealous 
because I ’m better off than they are, that ’s all ; still, it ’s 
not pleasant to meet people who know so much about one’s 
ancestors ;” and he slapped his knees angrily with his open 
hand. 

His wife had slipped out of the room when she heard 
him speak about business, and had gone to write her letter 
to the mother superior of the convent of the Sacred 
Heart in Paris, to haA^e Isabelle sent back under the care 
of a trusty governess, Avho, if approved of by Mrs. Hogg, 
would be kept as a teacher to the young lady. She 
posted the letter herself so that it would not be in the 
power of the servants to tell Mamie what she had done. 
Isabelle would be with h^r in less than three weeks.. 


THE a:mericah Heiress 


435 


In the meantime she began preparations for Mamie^s 
marriage, refurnishing her house in Brooklyn, where it had 
been agreed that Tom and Mamie were to live after their 
marriage, Tom to begin business as a lawyer in Wall 
street. New York. 

When Mamie had oeen urged by her mother to come 
to New York to look after her trousseau she had answered, 
^T will come, but not just yet; I will write you when to^ 
expect me;^^ and her mother had heard nothing more^ 
of her. So Isabelle came back, a lovely girl, tall for her 
age, and threw herself into Mrs. Hogg's arms, saying, 
^T 'm so pleased that you have sent for me ! I feared that 
you had ceased to love me.'' 

^^No, my dear, and only for Mamie I would never nave 
sent you away, but she said that it would be for your good, 
and perhaps she was right ; you have improved, my dear 
and she kissed her again. 

^^And where is Mamie, mamma ? Is n't she here ?" 

^‘^No, dear, she is in the country, and when we are rested 
we will go and see her and give her a surprise." 


436 


MISS HOGG 


CHAPTBE LIX. 

In the meantime Miss Hogg was feeling iiiore tranquil. 
More than four months had elapsed since she had sent 
^he lawyer on the wrong tack. He had had plenty of time 
to get the letter back from Australia, and yet he had taken 
no step to discover the cause; that proved to Miss Hogg 
that he felt no interest in the matter; her name had not 
appeared in it; the parties who had written to him were 
all strangers to him, and she had not heard from them 
again; they must have settled the business among them- 
selves, and he had allowed the matter to drop. She would 
never hear anything more from him; that was as clear 
as day; and Lady Florence could remain on the farm 
for years and no one he the wiser for it as long as she 
kept the real Isabelle away, and that she must do at any 
cost. She would induce her mother to go to Paris next 
year with some of their friends and remain there for some 
time. She could have Isabelle with her during the holidays, 
and take her about, but she must leave her at the convent 
to finish her education. She knew how to get around her 
mother, and Tom was pressing her so that she could no 
longer put him off. So, having set her mind at rest in 
regard to the lawyer, she made up her mind to marry Tom 
at all hazards. She had tried so often to tell him, but 
somehow the words would not come; the great fear of 
losing him was forever before her eyes, so she would marry 
him and run the risk of whatever would happen in the 
future, for she intended that Lady Florence should have 
her rights some day, for she knew that she was a great 
heiress and she did not intend to make her lose her in- 
heritance. But surely it would be easier to tell Tom when 
they had been married for years, and she saw no other 
way open to her. Had the lawyer interfered in the matter 
she would have been compelled to take another course ; but, 
thank heaven! he had allowed the matter to drop, and 
she was becoming bright and happy again, full of fun 
and mischief, and she was the light of the Eussells^ home, 


fTHE AMERICAN HElRtiSS 


43t 

Ijady Florence often accompanied her there and she had be- 
come very much attached to the Eussells. She would sit for 
hours with the old people, talk with them, and read and 
play for them; she had a sweet, pleasant temper, and 
could laugh merrily at Miss Hogg^s nonsense, but never 
took part in it. 

One evening she was playing and singing to the old 
people ; her sweet voice could be heard through the house ; 
]V[iss Hogg and Tom were walking arm in arm on the 
veranda, their faces beaming with true love and happiness. 
Tom had gained his wish, for Mamie had just promised 
him to go to ISTew York the next day to prepare for 
their wedding, which they had agreed should take place 
in five weeks. Having planned and arranged matters to 
the satisfaction of both, they were on the point of re- 
cutering the house when they saw in the semi-darkness the 
form of a tall man hurrying toward the house. They 
waited to see who it could be, and were surprised at seeing 
Jerry, for Jerry it was. He approached the door with 
tlie intention of knocking, and the hall light shone on his 
face, wdiich was as pale as death. Miss Hogg hurried 
towards him, not giving him time to knock, and asked 
in a choked voice, ^^What is it, Jerry? what has happened 

Jerry only saw Miss Hogg, for Tom had remained in 
the shadow of the climbing roses, not wishing to appear 
anxious to know Jerry’s business with his mistress; but 
his blood ran cold as he heard him answer, ^^0, Miss Hogg, 
we’re all lost; come to the house at once.” Then seeing 
Tom, who had approached and had heard his dreadful 
words, he stopped short, and said, mean — I mean there 
is a lady at the house who wishes to see you.” 

Miss Hogg’s face had turned Vhite as death. The 
change of feeling had been so great — from perfect happi- 
ness to the depth of despair — that for a moment her tall 
figure swayed as if about to fall to the ground. Tom 
hastened to put his arm around her to sustain her, but the 
weakness had already passed away, and she turned on 
Jerry and said, ^^What do you mean by frightening me 
in that manner ? I felt sure that the house was on fire, and 
it is only a friend who has come to see me ; tell her that I ’m 
coming;” and she ran in to get her hat and jacket. 

Tom saw that she was white to the lips as she passed 


MISS Hood 


438 

under the light in the hallway. What could have happened 
and why had Jerry said, ‘^^We are all lost/" placing himself 
and others, whoever they may be, on the same footing with 
his mistress. And why had Mamie turned so white ? But 
here she was, coming out again. Going up to her, he 
said, ‘^^Shall I go with you, Mamie? You don"t seem fit 
to go alone."" 

She stood still and looked at him with despairing love 
and anguish in her black eyes; then, throwing her arms 
around his neck, and burying her face on his shoulder, she 
said, ^^Tom, dear Tom, whatever happens never doubt that 
I love you and don"t despise me."" And, kissing him 
passionately, she disengaged herself from his embrace and 
left him, saying, ^^Don"t come with me ; it would do no good. 
0, why did I not tell you? Good-by, my love."" And she 
was gone. 

He saw her rejoin Jerry, who must have been waiting 
for her. He had not gone to the house and delivered her 
message, and that he knew he was not expected to do so 
was clear to Tom; but what could Mamie be hiding from 
him. Whatever it was, she must have believed the danger 
past for had she not that very night promised to marry 
him in five weeks? And she had looked radiantly happy. 
And now she seemed to have lost all hope of becoming his 
wife and had acted as if they were parting forever; and 
he was to believe that she loved him, whatever happened. 
But what was going to happen? 0, if he only knew, he 
might save her and advise her ! She loved him, he had no 
doubt of that; so, if she would only tell him, everything 
would come right; but what could it be? and his heart 
ached, for he saw that whatever it was he would lose 
Mamie. Had she not said so ? Had she not taken her fare- 
well of him ? He felt that that was what she meant when 
she kissed him so passionately. 0, there was love in that 
kiss, and despair too ! But some one was speaking to him 
— who was it? 

^Ts that you, Katy, and what do you want? Speak; 
has anything happened to Mamie?"" 

^^Ho, Mr. Tom, no; I want to speak to you;"" and her 
voice seemed to tremble with fear and anguish. 

^^Well, tell me what you want, Katy."" 

^^0, Mr. Tom, I hardly know how to express myself; 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


439 


liow I wish that Miss Hogg had told you, as I advised her 
to do! You would have made it all right, for you love 
lier/^ 

^^Tell me yourself, Katy, and let me save her from 
whatever it may be/’ 

^^0, Mr. Tom, I can’t; I have promised her that I 
would never tell; but, Mr. Tom, for the love of God, for 
the love you bear Mamie, for the honor of the family, don’t 
tell that Miss Isabelle has been here all these months, and 
whatever happens to-morrow don’t look surprised ; act as if 
you had never seen Miss Isabelle; do promise, Mr. Tom, 
and that you will tell your people to do the same;” and 
Katy actually joined her hands and was about to fall 
on her knees when Tom said sternly, ^^What are you about, 
Katy, are you mad? Do you wish me to have the whole 
household here? Whatever I can do for my cousin shall 
be done without your being compelled to kneel to me; but 
this I must tell you, that even for the sake of Mamie, 
whom I love more than my own life, I will not be an 
accomplice in anything dishonorable, nor will any of the 
Eussells. Death before dishonor is our motto. Now that 
you know me, what do you wish me to do ?” 

^^Kothing, Mr. Tom; I only ask that whatever you 
may hear or see you will all keep silent about Miss Isabelle’s 
having been here at Miss Hogg’s fann ; will you do it ? Don’t 
say no, Mr. Tom,” she continued, as she saw that Tom 
hesitated, ^^or you will be the cause of Mamie’s ruin, and 
perhaps of her death ; promise, 0, promise, that I may go 
and relieve her mind; if you could see her white face 
your heart would ache.” 

have seen it, and my heart does ache. Why not let 
me save her, for I feel sure that I could if you would only 
confide in me.” 

^^0, Mr. Tom, I wish I could, but I swore to Mamie that 
I would never tell and I can’t break my oath;” and the 
tears ran down her cheeks. ^^Make haste, Mr. Tom, and 
promise me ; I ought to be with Miss Hogg now ; I only ask 
you to remain silent; nothing more.” 

^^Well, Katy, I promise, though I feel that in doing so 
I am doing wrong.” 

^^Ko, no, Mr. Tom; you have saved Miss Hogg lor 
the present^ at least. Good night, and God bless you!” 


440 


MISS HOGG 


And Tom found himself alone, for Kaiy had rushed 
home as soon as she had received his promise to be silent. 
He could hear Lady Florence singing, so she was still 
there. Was she to remain with them? Heitlier Mamie 
nor Katy had said so. Were 'they expected to hide her, 
and why, and how could they remain silent about her 
coming to them when she was there herself ? 

He went into the house to tell his mother what had 
happened, but when she had heard all he had to say she 
said that she was at a loss to understand the motives of 
Mamie or Katy. All that she could make out was that 
something was going to happen and that some one was 
coming for Isabelle. ^Tt must be some of her people who 
wish to claim her, and Mamie must have known of it for 
some time past, and as she loves her dearly she has no wish 
to give her up ; that is my opinion.^^ 

^^Well, mother, you may be right, and I begin to think 
you are; but why didnT Mamie trust us and tell us all 
about it?^^ 

^^Well, my son, perhaps she thought that we would not 
approve of her keeping the child from her parents. How- 
ever, time will tell, and donT you fret about Mamie; she 
will never give you up, for she loves you madly; don’t 
you know that we can see it ?” 

Tom was much relieved by his mother’s view of the 
affair. 

Soon afterwards Mrs. Jerry came in and asked for the 
young lady; the old woman looked pale, but calm, and 
when asked by Mrs. Eussell how Mamie was she answered, 
^‘0, she ’s all right ; that fool of a son of mine gave her a 
start wLen he told her that her mother had come. She 
feared that something had happened to her father.” 

^^0, it was Sophy, was it? Well, really, what a fuss 
about nothing! Jerry ought to have known better than 
to have made such a mystery of her coming.” 

Mrs. Jerry said no more, but departed with the supposed 
Isabelle. As soon as she had left Tom said, can’t under- 
stand this business at all. Aunt Sophy may have come, 
but that would not have made Jerry so pale, and he 
did n’t mention to Mamie that her mother had come, I am 
sure of that; and how could her mother’s coming make 
her act towards me as she did ? And then Katy coming at 


THE AlMERlCAir HEIRESS 


441 

me and making me promise to be silent about Isabelle. 
However^ we must try to keep the promise I made, and 
waiV’ 

That night they held a conference, and agreed to keep 
silent as far as the family was concerned, but that the 
servants would talk they knew; still, they thought it best 
to say nothing to them about holding their tongues. Old 
Mr. Eussell said he did nT approve of masters or mistresses 
putting themselves in the power of the servants ; and that 
whether they promised to keep silent or not they would 
talk, and be on the lookout to see who was coming to ask 
for the child; and that if they were not told, there was a 
chance that whoever was coming would not be seen by 
them; and that for some time to come, in fact, until this 
mystery was solved, it would be well that some member of 
the family attend the door. Having agreed that this was 
a wise plan to adopt, they retired, more to think what the 
morrow might bring forth than with hope of sleep. Mrs. 
Eussell, the elder, had remarked during the discussion, 
^Tf Sophy is here we shall soon know the truth, for she 
can never deeeive.^^ So the next day was looked forward 
to with great anxiety and expectation that the mystery 
would be cleared up by Mrs. Hogg; but Mrs. Hogg only 
made it more inexplicable. 

When Miss Hogg rejoined Jerry she had whispered, 
^^Who is it, Jerry? Is it Lady Montgomery? Does she 
know that her niece is here 

^^Ho, miss, it is not Lady Montgomery, but Mrs. Hogg 
with the real Miss Isabelle.^^ 

^^What!^^ almost screamed Miss Hogg, ^Tsabelle here, 
when I believed her in Paris ? Has mv mother discovered 
everything 

think not ; but she gave us such a fright ; Katy nearly 
fainted at the sight of her, and instead of helping Mrs. 
Hogg into the house she ran back and called to me to 
run and tell you that your mother was here with Miss 
Isabelle, and I have come, as you see; but try to calm 
yourself, miss, or your mother will think it strange that 
her coming has upset everybody.^^ 

^^You Ye right, Jerry, I must be brave. Lady Florence 
must be taken away this very night. Have the carriage 
ready at some distance from the house so that my mother 


442 


Kiss HOGG 


won’t see and let yonr mother pack up a few things; 
take the trunk to the carriage yourself and then let your 
mother go for Lady Florence and take her to our house 
in Brooklyn^ and let her pass there as a relative of the 
Kussells come to see New York, you understand. I must 
go to my mother, and I won’t leave her nor the child 
until you let me know that the other one is gone. Where 
is Katy?” 

don’t know; in the house, I suppose.” 

Miss Hogg went through the house before going to 
her mother, but Katy was not to be seen, so that she had to 
face her mother without any prearranged plans between 
herself and Katy. 

Katy had gone to Tom, as we have seen, to prepare and 
smooth the way for Mamie and to put off the evil day 
as long as possible, to give Mamie time to think; she was 
as cunning as her mistress, if not more so; and she knew 
that if the Eussells told Mrs. Hogg that her supposed 
adopted daughter had been there, and they saw the real 
one with her, an explanation would have to follow, and 
after what had happened in London Mrs. Hogg would 
soon discover that Mamie had been justly accused of ab- 
ducting Lady Montgomery’s niece; and by making Tom 
promise that nothing would be said about the young lady 
she had secured a few days’ respite for her mistress. Katy 
saw no way of escape, for they were getting cornered; it 
was sure to become known that the false Isabelle had 
been at the Eussells’, and they were not the people to help 
on such a disgraceful plot. That Mamie would lose Tom 
now she felt sure ; but if things had been explained to him 
before the discovery there would have been a chance for 
forgiveness, for Tom loved her ; he would have managed to 
send Lady Florence back to her people in a quiet way, and 
there would have been no scandal, — even his own people 
need not have known it ; but now all that opportunity was 
gone, and there would be a great scandal when it became 
known that for years Miss Hogg had concealed the where- 
abouts of Lady Florence because Lord Montgomery had 
refused her matrimonial advances. How could Tom Eus- 
sell marry her after such an exposure? His people wouhl 
all turn against him were he to do so, and in spite of all 
her professions of love for him she had loved Lord Mont- 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


443 


gomery. He would turn away from her with disgust if 
it broke his heart to do so, for he was an honorable man. 
Katy knew enough of the Eussells to guess what would 
happen, so she had gone to Tom to gain time, but not 
until she had seen Miss Hogg enter the house with Jerry 
and had noticed how pale and ill she looked. She had 
waited until her return, fearing to meet her and be pre- 
vented from carrying out her plan of seeing Tom; and 
it was well for Mamie that Katy had waited, as the story 
will show. 

Miss Hogg, being unable to find Katy, went to her 
own room, bathed her face, and drank a glass of water, for 
her throat was parched, her tongue dry, and her heart 
beating fast. The news that her mother was there with 
the real Isabelle had dashed her hopes of happiness to the 
ground; she would lose Tom. 0, why had she not told 
him before ? Coming from her it would not have shocked 
him so much as having heard it by chance; and to think 
that she was on the point of marrying him with the secret 
untold ! How he would despise and hate her ! 

^*^0, Tom, my love, my love V’ she cried in anguish, and 
in her grief she remembered what Walgrave had said on 
leaving her. ^^0, Mamie, my love, how could you V’ and she 
had laughed in his face. 0 this w^as retribution indeed ! Poor 
Walgrave must have suffered as she was suffering now. 
Would Tom laugh at her as she had laughed at Walgrave? 
Ko, for he loved her ! but it would break his heart; she had 
ruined his life and her own. Such a beautiful prospect 
had opened to her — a life of blissful love with her cousin, 
and now she had lost him by deceiving him. Poor Mamie ! 
Sinful as she was, she was to be pitied, for the anguish of 
her lu^iart was great and can only be understood by those 
who have loved and lost. She loved Tom madly; she had 
given him her whole heart and soul, her every thought ; she 
lived in liim ; he was all the world to her ; he was her first 
love, and would be her last, come what might. Still, she 
knew that appearances were against her, and that she 
would not appear in her true light to her cousin Tom, 
v/ho was so true and frank in all his actions. As these 
thoughts passed through her brain it was no wonder that 
she looked pale and ill and that her throat was parched. 
IJaving swallowed a glass of water^ she went down to 


444 


MISS HOGQ 


her mother, whom she found with Isabelle in the drawing- 
room, looking rather offended at her neglect by Katy and 
the other servants. As her daughter entered she said, 
without noticing how ill she looked, ^^We thought of giving 
you a pleasant surprise by coming upon you unexpectedly, 
but we are received more like the dead arisen from their 
graves, for as soon as Katy saw us at the gate she ran 
screaming away and has not come back. Are we not 
welcome at your farm?^^ 

Miss Hogg had had time to recover herself during 
her mother’s long speech, and she said, ^^Indeed, ma, you 
are welcome, and so is dear Isabelle.” And kissing them 
both, she continued: ^^Don’t be hard on Katy; she knew 
that I was at the Eussells’ and she ran to call her husband 
and sent him to tell me that you had come. Of course she 
might have helped you in first, but I suppose she lost 
her head on seeing you, and in her hurry to send for me.” 

^^Well, that may be,” said Mrs. Hogg, ^^so we will say 
no more about it. We have n’t come to stay, my dear, 
at least not more than a week. I have come to find out 
when you and Tom intend to get married ; I must knoAV the 
day. I won’t be put off any longer. I have already begun 
to make preparations; I have had my house in Brooklyn 
beautifully furnished and it is in readiness for you.” 

Poor Mamie, her mother’s kind words cut her like a 
knife. Her marriage with Tom ! 0, it would never take 

place ! But she could not tell her that without telling 
her all, and that she couldn’t do; so she said, ^^You are 
too good to me, ma.” 

^^JSTo, my dear; and your father wishes you to have a 
grand wedding that will astonish the four hundred; he 
told me to tell you so, as he said, and it is true, that most 
of them began life as his father did, with a pack on their 
backs, and he ’s not going to allow them to show off more 
than he will. Tom and I were for a more quiet wedding, 
but he would n’t hear of it, and we must please him, my 
dear, for he has been very good to us.” 

^^All right, ma, I ’ll let you know before you leave here, 
and probaWy will go back with you.” 

^‘'That ’s right, my dear, and Isabelle is going to be one 
of your bridesmaids, and, of course, Mary and Julia, and 
some of your Kew York friends. Your father wants you 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 445 

to have twelve bridesmaids. 0, here comes Katy. Why 
did you run away when you saw us 

^^Surely there was no such hurry to let me know that 
ma had come ; you might have helped her in before sending 
for me/^ Miss Hogg had hastened to say before Katy 
could reply to her mother. 

^^Yes, miss, I ought to have done so, but I forgot at 
the moment and only thought of letting you know. Tea 
is ready, miss, and I have been preparing the ladies^ 
rooms.^^ 

Mrs. Hogg, rising, followed her with Isabelle. 

Katy soon came down again and said, Jerry and his 
mother are gone and I have sent the governess away, for 
it would never do to have her here.^^ 

^^You are right, Katy, you have acted prudently; but 
she must be dismissed, for she will talk, and the servants 
in Brooklyn will soon find out that all is not right.^^ 

^^She is going to be dismissed by Mrs. Jerry as soon as 
they arrive in Kew York, and she will not even know where 
they are going with the young lady.^^ 

but, Katy, we are lost all the same. To-morrow my 
mother will visit her people with Isabelle; I canT prevent 
it; and they will tell her all.^^ 

^^Ko, Mamie, you are safe in that quarter for a few 
days at least; I have seen Mr. Tom, and have made him 
promise to keep silent on the matter and not mention to 
anybody that Miss Isabelle has been at their house.^^ 

^^Did you tell him that my mother was here 
^^Ko, of course not; I said as little as I could; all I 
wanted was the promise that he and his people would not 
mention Miss Isabelle to anyone, and he did promise after 
a while ; he did n’t care to do so at first, but when I told 
him that you were in danger he did promise for himself 
and his family. 0, how he loves you, Mamie !” 

^^Don’t, don’t, Katy, I can^t bear it ! I have lost him. 
But here comes ma;” and Katy left them going to tea 
while she went to attend to her baby; she kissed him and 
cried over him, fearing to be parted from him when every- 
thing v/as known. 

Mrs. Hogg asked about her people, declaring her 
intention of going to see them with Isabelle on the morrow, 


446 


MISS HOGG 


at which Mamie turned pale; her mother noticed it and 
said, ‘^You donY look very well, Mamie/^ 
have a bad headache, ma/^ 

Poor Mamie, it was a heartache that she had ! 

The next day Isabelle was up early, running about the 
house and garden. She felt free and happy ; she had been 
so long in the convent where everything is done by rule, 
never being free to do as she wished, that she appreciated 
her freedom and was making the most of it. Katy had 
helped her to dress, not in her school uniform, but in a 
beautiful French toilette; and her hair was not done up 
in a tight plait behind her back, but hung in beautiful 
curls tied with a blue ribbon; she wore a white dress of 
the finest lace and embroidery, a wide blue sash around 
her waist and a pearl necklace around her neck ; she looked 
almost as handsome as Lady Florence, but she was more 
timid, not having had the advantages that Lady Florence 
had had of mingling with the countess and her set ; she had 
not the self-possession, the 'queenly air, nor the savoir-faire 
of Lady Florence. Katy had attended to her to prevent the 
chance of the other servants mentioning the other Isabelle 
to her. 

It was almost nine o’clock ; Mrs. and Miss Hogg were in 
the l)reakfast room, and as a strange servant brought in 
the breakfast Mrs. Hogg remarked, thought you had 
Jerry’s mother here.” 

^^So we have, ma, but she has gone to town for a few 
days.” 

At that moment Isabelle came running in, saying, 
^^0, mamma, I ’m afraid I ’ve been very rude.” 

^^Why, what have you done ?” asked Mrs. Hogg. 

^^Well, mamma, I was standing on the doorsteps when 
a tall, fair gentleman stopped at the gate and raised his 
hat to me, and I, instead of bowing to him, as I suppose I 
ought to have done, felt so shy that I ran into the house, 
and did n’t answer him at all.” 

^Tt must have been Tom Kussell,” said Mrs. Hogg. 
wonder why he did n’t come in ; he must have guessed that 
you are Isabelle, and so he bowed to you, my dear; but 
there is not much harm done; you did not know that it 
was Tom, and he will only think the better of you for not 


(THE AMERICAN ilEIRESS 44? 

being too forward. We are going to his house after break-* 
fast and you will soon get acquainted with all of them.^^ 

^^You see, mamma, I have been so long in the convent, 
where we never saw any gentlemen except the doctors and 
the priests; and then when we went for a walk we were 
told by the sisters never to speak or return any bows to 
gentlemen ; so that it was natural for me to run away.^^ 

Miss Hogg listened to all this talk and thanked God 
that Tom had not come in. He must have mistaken Isa- 
belle for Lady Florence; what would he think of her for 
running away from him? 0, but he would know soon 
enough ; and he who always stopped in had not done so that 
morning. Why? Did he already know the truth? No, 
no ; for no one had been to his house as yet ; and her heart 
ached more and more. 

Her mother asked her if she was coming with them, 
but she pleaded indisposition; if she felt better she would 
come in the evening. The fact was that she did not dare 
to be present when her mother introduced Isabelle as her 
adopted daughter; nor had she any intention of going 
there in the evening. 

^^0, I understand, said her mother, smiling; ^^Tom 
will call for you on his way back, and as there ^s no Tom 
at the farm you donT care to come. Now, Katy, get Miss 
Isabelle^s hat — the blue satin one with white plumes. 
I want my pet to make a good impression on all my 
people.^^ 

They soon left the house together. When they were 
gone Miss Flogg retired to her room, a prey to the greatest 
anxiety she had ever experienced. 

Katy saw, from a back window where she had stationed 
herself, Mrs. Hogg and Isabelle go down the avenue of 
Eussell farm. Her face was pale ; she felt her legs giving 
way under her, and as the ladies disappeared into the house 
she fell on her knees by the side of her baby’s cradle and 
prayed as she had never done in her life before, for she saw 
visions of a prison cell for herself, her husband, and her 
mother-in-law, in her old age; yet, they had not been the 
principals in this unfortunate affair, but had only obeyed 
the orders of Miss Hogg, who also would suffer by the 
scandal, and her father would have to come down with a 
good big sum of money ; she would lose Tom Eussell, which 


448 


MISS nom 


would bo 0, great blow^ and she could never expect to 
marry after that exposure. Katy prayed and sobbed until 
she felt very ill. 

Jerry came in very pale, too, but he said, ^^Cheer up, 
Katy, it won^t be as bad as you imagine ; we did n’t -hurt the 
young lady, and she will plead for us. My mother told 
me when I left her that if Miss Hogg did not soon consent 
to send her back to her people she would take it upon 
herself to go to Lady Montgomery with her.” 

^^ 0 , but J erry, we must not betray Miss Hogg ; she has 
been good to us, and she and I were schoolmates; we 
must be true to her.” 

^^Well, my dear, we will tell her, and give her a chance 
to send back the young lady herself ; that ’s fair. I can’t 
see my wife and mother go to prison, and be transported 
myself for what we did very innocently at the beginning, 
for had we known, my mother and I, that she had abducted 
Lady Florence we would not have helped her.” 

^^That ’s all true, J erry, as far as your mother and your- 
self are concerned, but I knew it all along, and enjoyed 
the fun, as I called it, at the time. Still, you are right; 
the young lady must be sent back to Lady Montgomery.” 

That same afternoon, when Katy brought Miss Hogg 
a cup of tea, some new laid eggs, and buttered toast, to 
her room, as she would not come down and had eaten 
nothing since breakfast, she found her looking very ill, so 
she said, ^^Look here, Mamie, this won’t do ; if something 
is not done to relieve your mind you will be ill or go mad. 
Let Mrs. Jerry take Lady Florence back to Lady Mont- 
gomery, and let us all bear the consequences of what will 
follow; that is our only course. Jerry and his mother 
think as I do.” 

^Terhaps you ’re right; but wait until I return to Hew 
York with my mother; it will be only one week from now, 
and nothing much can happen in a week.” 

We shall see if Miss Hogg was right. Katy coaxed her 
to drink her tea and to eat. 

^^ 0 , Katy, only think; I just saw Tom going back home 
and he did not call ; he only looked toward the house.” 

^^Well, Mamie, he thinks 3^011 are at his house with your 
mother.” Katy’s words were balm to Miss klogg’s heart. 

Mrs. Hogg and Isabelle came back late that nighty 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 




accompanied by Tom, who came in to see Mamie ; but Katy 
told him that she had gone to bed early, not feeling very 
well. Tom went sadly away. Mrs. Hogg went to her 
daughter's room and found her up. She said, ^^What is the 
meaning of this, have you quarreled with Tom ? He looks 
most unhappy; and you, you are ill and refuse to see 
him.^^ 

^^Ho, ma, we have not quarreled; I could never do 
that; I am not ill; I will try to sleep and will go down 
to Eussell farm to-morrow. How are they all there 

^^They are all in good health, as far as I can see, but 
I never saw people more surprised than they were 
when they saw Isabelle, and I told them that she was my 
adopted daughter. ^Your adopted daughter,^ said my 
mother, ^how strange ! I thought that that^ — and she 
stopped quite confused and would not explain what she 
meant. My father asked her name, and when I said Isa- 
belle de Courtney they looked at each other and said, 
‘^How strange ^What is strange I asked, rather sharply, 
for their mysterious ways didn’t please me. ^Hothing,’ 
said my brother, T)ut we knew a little girl by the name 
of Isabelle Eeynolds — did you ever hear of her ?’ H never 
did,’ I replied, and no more was said. They all asked after 
you and expected you to come with Tom, and so did I, 
my dear.” 

^^My head was so bad, ma, that I thought it best to 
stay at home, but I ’ll go to-morrow.” 

The next day as Tom passed the house he went in to 
see Mamie and was surprised to see her looking so ill. 
He asked, ^^Can I do anything for you, Mamie ?” 

^^Ho, Tom,” she replied. 

^^Shall I call here on my way back ?” 

^^Ho, Tom, dear; I will be at your house before you get 
home.” 

She had not looked at him once while speaking to him ; 
he had kissed her hand and left her, not knowing what 
to make of her. However, he was not to remain long in 
ignorance, for that afternoon when he reached his home 
he saw a carriage at the door and he knew that there 
must be visitors at the house. As he went in he met his 
sister Mary in the hallway, seemingly on the watch for 
him ; taking him by the arm she drew him into the dining 


450 


HISS nom 


room^ and, after closing the door, she whispered, ^^Tom, 
what do you think? Lord Montgomery is here; he has 
come to see Mamie/^ Tom turned pale as death. ^^Did 
Lord Montgomery love Mamie, perchance,^^ was his first 
thought. 

^^What does he want with Mamie he asked, sternly. 

^^0, it is terrible! He said he had been traveling in 
search of his young cousin whom they lost more than five 
years ago, and he begged Mamie if she knew anything of 
her to tell him. Aunt Sophy became very indignant and 
told us a long story of how she and Mamie had been 
persecuted in England by him and his mother, and a lot 
of detectives; and that that was the reason Mamie had 
retaliated on Walgrave as she had done. What she meant 
I donT know; but what is sure is that Aunt Sophy knows 
nothing about the young lady who has been here lately, 
and that she must be Lord Montgomery’s cousin. 

^^What motive could she have had for abducting the 
child?” 

don’t know, Mary,” replied Tom, sadly, ^^unless she 
is crazy; she has acted very strangely toward me lately, 
and wouldn’t name the day for our marriage, always 
putting me off as if she feared that something would 
happen if she married me.” 

^L\nd yet she loves you, Tom, no one can doubt it ; but 
you had better go in and see what you can make out of the 
business.” 

^^Don’t betray Mamie; we will talk to her when he is 
gone ; I promised Katy that we would be silent, and I must 
keep my word;” and he walked into the drawing-room 
with Mary. 

Lord Montgomery was just saying, ^^Miss Hogg, you 
look ill, and I have no desire to distress you; but if you 
know anything about Lady Florence I beg of you to tell 
me; my mother has known no peace since that dreadful 
night, and I have been traveling from country to country 
without success. I have come here to see you once more and 
ask you if you know anything about her.” 

Miss Hogg was reclining on the sofa and really looked 
ill ; her lips were red and dry ; her black eyes had a hunted 
look in them ; that she was exerting herself to remain calm 
was very evident ; her hands were clasped tightly together ; 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


451 


she felt that all eyes were upon her, and, worse than all, 
that the Eussells knew that she was guilty, though her 
mother did not, and she naturally felt indignant at Lord 
Montgomery for persisting in his inquiries. Mamie saw 
Tom come in. How handsome he was ! To her loving 
eyes he seemed handsomer than Lord Montgomery, and she 
thought, have lost him, 0, my love, my love V’ and her 
heart hardened against Lord Montgomery as she said to 
herself, ^^Had I never seen you and craved your title I 
would now be a happy woman.^^ She said to him, ^Tf your 
only hope of recovering Lady Florence rests on me, my 
lord, I must tell you it is vain.^^ 

^^Of course it is,^’ said her mother. ^^How should you 
know anything about Lord Montgomery's cousin any more 
than I do? I was nearly driven mad while in London; 
the detectives actually claimed my Isabelle and searched 
my room for her. Am I never to be left in peace while that 
child is with me ? She has hardly returned from the convent 
of the Sacred Heart, where she has been for two years, 
before she is followed here and claimed as Lady Florence 
and my own daughter accused of having abducted her.^^ 

The Eussells saw that Mrs. Hogg meant what she said 
and that Mamie had deceived her. 

^^My dear madam,^^ said Lord Montgomery, ^^you are 
laboring under a misapprehension; I do not claim the 
young lady you are speaking of ; I saw her at the convent 
that you have just mentioned while looking for my cousin, 
and I saw at once that it was not she, as I had been led to 
believe it was by some of the detectives whom we had 
employed to search for Lady Florence.^^ 

Mrs. Hogg had closed her eyes, being unable to bear 
the look of pain and wonder so plainly to be seen on the 
faces of all the Eussells. 

Lord Montgomery rose to go, saying, ^^My last hope is 
gone.^^ Turning to Mrs. Hogg, he continued, ^^Madam, 
I am very sorry if my coming here has been an annoyance 
to you; it was not meant so, and rest assured that I have 
no intention of claiming the pretty young lady I saw in 
the garden as I neared the house. May she be a blessing to 
you, as our Florence was to Us Bowing to all 
present, he left the room, Tom opening the door for him. 

Toin felt sorry for him^ for he looked so disappointed 


452 


MISS HOGG 


and had such a noble bearing. After seeing him to his 
carriage he returned to the room and found that his Aunt 
Sophy had left to see after Isabelle, whom she feared Lord 
Montgomery would take away if he had the chance. His 
grandmother was sitting by the side of Miss Hogg, holding 
one of her hands in her own, and saying, ^^Mamie, my 
child, don’t let him go; call him back and tell him; do, 
my dear.” 

^^j^o, never; he has wrecked my life and he shall suffer 
for it. Don’t ask me; I can’t do it; and I must tell you, 
grandpa and grandma, I am going back to New York 
with my mother and I shall never come back again to the 
farm; I am going to give it to you; in fact, it was for you 
that I bought it and not for myself.” 

^^No, my child,” said both the old people, ^Ve could not 
accept it; never, my dear. We require no bribe to keep 
your secret, but we hope that you will think better of 
it and not bring shame upon our old heads.” 

^‘^0, 1 did not mean it as a bribe,” said Mamie, big tears 
rolling down her cheeks; always meant the farm to be 
yours.” 

The old people, Mary, and Julia were crying. Mr. and 
Mrs. Eussell had left the room so as not to add to Mamie’s 
shame and embarrassment. Tom was as pale as a ghost 
and had not said one word. J ohn had not been admitted to 
the drawing-room, as it was feared that something very 
unpleasant was going to happen. Miss Hogg sobbed for 
some time ; she was a brave woman, as we have had occasion 
to see, and if she had not loved Tom and his people she 
would have defended herself in her usual brazen manner 
and would have got the best of them all ; but her love for 
Tom had changed her nature and had made a better woman 
of her. Then why did she not give up Lady Florence? 
Because at that moment she felt very bitter towards Lord 
Montgomery, for she had lost all hope of marrying Tom, 
and she knew that without him her life would be a per- 
petual misery ; and, though the day before she had intended 
to take steps to send her back to her aunt, she now had 
no such intention ; the spirit of revenge was upon her and 
she would work it to the end, come what might; and as 
her life was wrecked so should theirs be, as far as lay in, 
her power. 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


453 


But Mamie could not remain at the farm and meet 
every day the sad, reproachful looks of the Eussells, and 
see Tom pass the house twice a day, knowing that in his 
heart he despised her. She sobbed for some time great, 
dry sobs that shook her all over. No one seemed to know 
what to say to her for no one could approve of what she 
had done. If she had shown signs of repentance they would 
have shown their sympathy for her, tried to console her and 
help her to right the wrong she had done; but she had 
refused her grandmother^s request and she was making 
them accomplices by their silence. They felt that they 
were acting a disgraceful part, knowing, as they did, that 
she really had Lady Florence, and having remained in- 
active in the matter by allowing Lord Montgomery to go 
away when it had been in their power to send him away 
rejoicing. But at what a fearful cost they would have done 
it! The betrayal of Mamie and the consequences that 
would follow, and the breaking of their promise to Tom 1 
They had hoped that Mamie, knowing that all had been 
discovered, would, after Lord Montgomery’s departure, 
have thrown herself upon their mercy and asked their 
advice as to the best way of returning the child with as 
little publicity as possible, and explaining her motives 
for what she had done; instead of which she had refused 
all their overtures and advice and had declared herself 
determined to keep the child at all risks, and was trying to 
bribe them by offering the farm that they had so long 
wanted to purchase. Their pride, their honor, rebelled 
against such an offer, and with one accord the old people 
had refused ; they had felt humiliated at the offer, coming 
from one of their own blood and whom they had learned 
to love; so not a word was said by them. 

Miss Hogg rose from her seat; the silence that, had 
followed her offer and their refusal was agonizing to her. 
Turning to Tom, the picture of despair, she said, ^^Tom, 
dear Tom, let me call you so for the last time and, hold- 
ing her hands towards him, ^^do tell grandpa and grandma 
that it was for them that I bought the farm and that they 
must accept it ; they will never be troubled by me again ; 
do, Tom, for the love that you bore me.” But Tom did not 
take her hands, and with a look of despair he turned away 


454 


MISS HOGG 


from her whom he had loved so dearly and still loved, 
but could never marry now. 

When Miss Hogg saw her cousin turn away from her 
she lifted up her joined hands and said with a tone of 
anguish impossible to describe, ^^0, my dream, my dream ! 
it has come true V’ and with a cry that resounded through 
the house she fell to the floor as if dead. 

The cry brought her mother to the room, and as she 
saw her daughter she said, ^^This is all Lord Montgomery’s 
fault; she was already ill, and this accusation and the 
excitement have worked upon her nerves. I have never 
known her to faint before.^’ 

Everything possible was done to revive her and at last 
she opened her eyes, said, ^^Mother, take me home,” and 
closed them again. She was taken back to the farm 
where she had enjoyed so many happy days, but which 
was hateful to her now. Her mother and Katy attended 
her. She refused to see any of the Eussells when they 
called and her mother could not understand her motives, 
for she would not even see Tom, and she thought that 
her daughter was losing her reason. Katy understood 
her, and was herself very far from well, for she had been 
told by Mamie of Lord Montgomery’s visit to the Eussells. 

Miss Hogg did not take to her bed as it was feared she 
would, but insisted on getting up the next day; she sat 
in an easy chair near one of the windows in the drawing- 
room, where she could see all who came in or went out. 
Whom did she expect? She hardly knew; certainly not 
the person she saw coming towards the house on the third 
day after the events recorded. A cold shiver ran through 
her as she recognized the tall and gentlemanly form of 
Walgrave. He looked far better than when she had seen 
him last; his step was elastic, and he walked like a man 
who has a purpose to accomplish. Had he come to arrest 
her? Was he going to revenge himself on her for the 
insults she had heaped upon him? Had his love turned 
to hate? She no longer cared, for she had lost Tom and 
life was becoming a burden to her. Ever 5 dhing was so 
dark. She heard his ring at the door and her heart stood 
still; for she thought of the disgrace to all her people, 


a?HE AMERICAN heiress 


455 


CHAPTER LX. 

We left Walgrave on his way to Mr. Hogg^s mansion 
in Fifth avenue, Xew York, which he never reached; for 
as he passed Madison square he saw a tall, dark gentleman, 
decidedly English and whom he fancied that he had seen 
before; so, stopping his cab quite close to the hotel which 
he saw this gentleman enter, he raised his hand to his 
forehead and reflected : who was he and where had he seen 
him ? It came to him like a flash ; it was Lord Montgomery, 
though very much altered; he was stouter, more manly; 
five years had changed him; he was handsomer than ever, 
but more subdued looking. W'algrave alighted from his 
cab, dismissed it, entered the hotel, and handing his 
portmanteau to a waiter, he walked into the parlor and 
came face to face with Lord Montgomery, who recognized 
him at once and said, ^^Mr. Walgrave, I believe; have you 
come on the same errand as I have?’^ 

am certainly pleased to meet you. Lord Montgomery, 
very much pleased; but perhaps you are not aware that 
I am no longer a detective. I gave up the business some 
years ago. Have you succeeded in tracing your cousin 
yet?^' 

^^Yes, we all believe that Miss Hogg had something to 
do with her disappearance, but we have not been able to 
prove it.^^ 

^LA.re you following any clew now. Lord Montgomery 
asked Walgrave, anxiously. 

^^Xo, it was on a momentary impulse that I came here. 
I was at a party in Liverpool when I heard that a steamer 
was to leave for New York at midnight; it was then after 
ten; I left the party, went to a hotel, wrote my name in 
the visitors’ book, sent a telegram to my mother, boarded 
the steamer, and here I am.” 

^^And have you taken any steps in the matter — I mean 
have you detectives at work here?” 

^^No, but I have called on Miss Hogg and begged 
of her to tell me if she had anything to do with my 


456 


i^iss mm 


cousin’s disappearance; she has denied it, as usual, and 
her mother was very much offended at me for making 
the inquiry. It is quite evident that if Miss Hogg has 
done the deed her mother does not know it; she seems to 
be a very superior woman.” 

^^Where is Miss Hogg, at her father’s in Fifth avenue ?” 

I went there first and was told that she was in 
the country, near Jefferson City, Missouri ; it appears that 
her mother’s people live there; their name is Eussell; they 
are respectable farmers. Miss Hogg looked ill when I 
saw her.” 

^^Do you think your sudden appearance gave her a shock 
and made her look ill?” 

^^No, for her mother remarked that she was ill, and 
that my insulting questions were making her worse. I 
left Kussell farm with my hopes crushed. Will you go 
and see her?” 

^Terhaps, but not as a detective;” and he left Lord 
Montgomery and went to his room. Having dined, he was 
soon on his way to the west, and on reaching Eussell 
farm he gave the Eussells another shock when he asked to 
see Miss Hogg, and introduced himself as Mr. Walgrave 
to Mary Eiissell, who had gone to the door. Her first 
thought was that he had come to arrest her cousin, but 
after a second look at his kind and handsome face she 
doubted it. She told him that Miss Hogg lived on the 
next farm and pointed out the house to him, saying that 
Miss Hogg was her cousin, and she was sorry to say that 
she was ill, and that any shock would be bad for her; 
that she hoped he was not the bearer of unwelcome news. 

W^algrave saw by Mary’s eyes that something had 
happened to make them suspicious of Miss Hogg, and he 
hastened to say, ^^Ho, Miss Eussell, I hope to be able to 
make everything right for your cousin by rem(5ving the 
cause of her anxiety; I am her friend, not her enemy;” 
and raising his hat, he had gone to Mamie’s farm with 
joyful step, as we have seen him; he felt happy, for he 
had not arrived too late to save her. 

Lord Montgomery knew nothing of the lawyer’s dis- 
covery ; it was by mere chance that he had come to America, 
but he must hurry and not let the grass grow under his 
feet, for at any moment a telegram might come from 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


457 


either the lawyer or Mathew to arrest Miss Hogg. He was 
ahead of them so far, and he would keep ahead if he had 
to hide Miss Hogg from them while he was sending back 
Lady Florence to Lady Montgomery; and he gave the 
bell a pull that brought Katy to the door in a hurry; she 
screamed as she recognized Walgrave, and would have 
run away but that Walgrave caught her by the arm, 
saying, must see your mistress at once ; it is to save her 
that I am here; do you understand? She is in danger; 
let me see her at once/^ 

But before Katy could speak Mrs. Hogg appeared on 
the scene, and having recognized Walgrave, she said, 
daughter is ill and you shall not see her. Are we never 
to be left in peace 

^^My dear madam, you mistake my motive in coming 
here; I have not come to make trouble for anyone in this 
house, but to bring peace. Tell your daughter that I am 
here and wish to see her, and if she refuses to see me I 
will not insist on an interview.^^ 

The drawing-room door opened and Miss Hogg ap- 
jieared, her face flushed and tears in her eyes; she said, 
^‘^Come in, Mr. Walgrave, I will see you.^^ 

Her mother stood for a moment mute with surprise; 
then she said to Katy, as Walgrave walked into the room 
and she heard Mamie locking the door after them, ^^Well, 
Katy, after all, I think she will marry Walgrave, or why 
should she have asked him in with such a flushed face and 
tears in her eyes ?” 

Katy did not answer, but she felt much relieved that 
Walgrave was with her mistress, for she had guessed that 
his love for her had brought him there, HxA that he had 
come to save her if he could, and not to expose her, as 
she had feared on seeing him.. Miss Hogg had heard all 
that had been said in the hall, and her heart softened 
as she guessed that his great and unselflsh love for her 
had brought him to see her in her great trouble; she felt 
that she did not deserve it, for had she not crushed that 
noble heart, and instead of seeking revenge as she was 
doing, he was exposing his own reputation to come and 
save her, for she had heard him use those words. She 
would see him; she would tell him all, and take his advice 
in this overwhelming trouble that she alone had made 


458 


MISS HOGG 


for herself^ for now that she was softening she saw herself 
as she really was. Walgrave^s noble and forgiving nature 
had opened her eyes and she repented sincerely of what 
she had done. Would to God that she had done so before 
she had lost Tom’s love and respect, and had wrecked his 
life and her own as she had done. Poor Vv^algravc, who 
had really done her no injury, but had loved her too well, 
and after all these years cared for her enough to come so 
far to rescue her from ruin ! 'No wonder that her face was 
flushed with shame and her eyes were filled with tears 
at Walgrave’s goodness of heart as she asked him in. 

Two hours passed and they could still be heard talking 
and Miss Hogg sobbing; then what seemed soft words of 
comfort coming from Walgrave. Mrs. Hogg was at a 
loss to understand what her daughter had to say to Wal- 
grave, why she wept, and what were the soft words that he 
seemed to be saying to her. Were they making it up ? It 
seemed very much like it to her. Was Mamie going to throw 
Tom over? Had she sent for her old lover to come back 
to her, and what did he mean by saying that he had come 
to save her? Did he mean save her from Tom? If so, she 
wished he had stayed away and had allowed her to marry 
Tom. 

But here was Tom himself coming to the house. What 
was going to happen between the two men? They must 
not meet. But what was Katy about, knocking at Mamie’s 
door and saying, ^^Mr. Tom Kussell is here. Miss Hogg; 
you must see him;” and Mr. Walgrave had opened the 
door and said, ^^You are right, Katy, show him in here,” 
and Tom, just entering the hall, the rivals met face 
to face. 

^‘^Come in, Mr. Eussell,” said Walgrave; was about 
to send for you.” 

Tom looked at the sad but noble looking face of the 
man who had loved Mamie before he himself had ever 
seen her. Mamie’s eyes were very red and there was a soft 
look in them that he had never seen there before ; she arose 
as he entered and said, ‘'^Tom, I know that I have lost 
your love and respect; still, allow me to present to you 
Mr. Walgrave, a true and honorable gentleman vdiom 
T have deeply wronged, and who has taken his revenge bv 
rendering me a great >service; in fact, he has lifted the cloud 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


469 

of dishonor from our heads brought there by me. He 
will explain everything to you ; and though my deeds have 
parted you and me I hope that you will not hate me 
when you know all.^^ 

The two men looked at each other and read each 
other’s noble nature; their hands clasped^ and without a 
word having been spoken between them, they felt that they 
were friends. Walgrave explained how Miss Hogg, believ- 
ing herself insulted by Lord and Lady Montgomery, had, 
in a moment of anger, taken Lady Florence, intending to 
send her back in a short time, but had not seen her way 
clear to do it without danger, and that the longer she had 
kept her the harder it had become; that when she had 
become engaged to her cousin the fear of losing him 
had kept her silent, and that was why she had deferred 
her marriage so often; in fact, Walgrave made so light of 
the affair that it no longer looked like a crime to Tom; 
^^and everything is going to be set right; and I, who know 
every incident in the case, have come here purposely 
to settle matters to the general satisfaction, and to see 
you all happy; and if I can see the woman I once loved 
happily married to the man she loves I shall return to 
England contented, for her happiness makes mine; and 
to see her life wrecked for a youthful, foolish trick would 
break my heart. I do not hesitate to say this to the man 
she loves, for my affection for her is pure and honorable 
and Walgrave threw back his head proudly, like a man 
who knows and feels that no one can find fault with his 
conduct. 

Miss Hogg’s sobs could be heard though she had buried 
her face in the sofa cushions; she did not dare hope that 
Tom would forgive her; and Walgrave’s noble pleading for 
her happiness touched her heart as nothing had ever done 
before. What a brave and noble heart his was ! How 
could he forgive her, as he was doing, after all the insults 
she had heaped upon him ? And loving her as he still did, 
he was pleading with another man to love her and make 
her happy. How unworthy she felt of the sacrifice that 
good man was making for her ! 

Tom had listened to Walgrave with wonder and respect, 
for he read the man’s heart well, and knew what he must 
be suffering. He rose from his chair, and going up to him 


MISS HOGd 


460 

held out his hand, and with tears in his eyes, and his 
voice trembling with emotion, said, ^^You are a better man 
than I am; you have done what I could not do — give my 
loved one to another man and ask him to make her happy. 
0, Mr. Walgrave, you deserve her more than I do!’^ 

But Walgrave murmured, ^^She does not love me, and 
her whole heart is yours ; make her happy, and I am your 
friend for life.^^ 

will,'’^ answered Tom, ^hf it lies in my power; 
and I am proud of your friendship 

Walgrave left the room, and meeting Ivaty in the hall 
asked for Mrs. Hogg, to whom, having spoken a fe^v words, 
they both left the house and Katy saw them going to 
Bussell farm. She knew that Walgrave had made every- 
thing right between Tom and Mamie, and that he was on 
his way to try to do the same with the Eussells. He 
seemed to be talking earnestly to Mrs. Hogg, and she to 
be listening attentively to what he said. Then she saw 
them stop near the large apple tree where Isabelle and 
John were sitting reading, for they had become great 
friends. John had taken more naturally to Isabelle than 
to Lady Florence; he felt more free with her and treated 
her like a sister, which he had never done with Lady 
Florence; her he had admired and liked as he would a 
queen, but nothing more ; but with Isabelle he could read, 
play, and race as if she had been a member of the family. 

Let us see why Walgrave had stopped so suddenly 
near the two children. He had been explaining matters 
to Mrs. Hogg, who was greatly shocked and surprised 
at v/hat her daughter had done, though he had made as 
light of it as he possibly could. When he caught sight 
of Isabelle he stood still, and looked at her with great 
emotion written on every line of his face, as he exclaimed, 
^^0, what a resemblance and his hand went to his heart 
as if to suppress its beating. 

^^Eesemblance to whom asked Mrs. Hogg. 

^^To my dear young wife whom I lost thirteen years ago, 
when she was drowned under my very eyes.^^ 

^^How terrible said Mrs. Hogg; ^^you have known 
trouble, Mr. Walgrave; and have you any children?^’ 

^^Ho, madam: we were onlv married one vear; but we 
had the hope of soon having one. From that time all 


AMERtOAK HRmESS 461 

happiness was crushed out of my life until I met your 
daughter and loved her as I had never loved before; and 
for a second time my heart was crushed; and now all I 
wish is to see her happy. Help me^ Mrs. Hogg, with 
your influence over your people to make her so.^^ 

^^You have a noble heart, Mr. Walgrave. May God 
reward you V’ Mrs. Hogg answered with tears in 
her soft eyes. ^^But how strange that Isabelle should 
resemble your lost wife V’ 

Hsabelle — did you say her name is Isabelle? My 
wife^s name was Isabelle de Courtney.^^ 

^^Why,^^ said Mrs. Hogg, greatly surprised, ^^that is 
my Isabelle's name ! What a strange coincidence, unless 
she is related to your late wife ! But here we are at the 
farm; we will discuss the matter another time, and I will 
tell you all about her; for after what you have just done 
for Mamie I consider you a friend of the family. 

Mr. Walgrave thanked Mrs. Hogg, and they both entered 
the farmhouse, where we shall leave them, and return to 
Miss Hogg, who was now on the best of terms with her 
cousin Tom, he having forgiven all after the departure of 
Walgrave. His noble conduct had made a great impression 
on Tom, and he had forgiven Mamie with all his heart and 
had forbidden her to say another word about the matter, 
but asked her to forget it, as he would ; so that they were 
happy once more — happier than ever before, for there were 
no secrets between them; and after having so nearly lost 
each other the reaction was great from the depths of 
sorrow and misery to perfect bliss. 

Katy had been called in and told that everything was 
righted. She was to send Jerry to his mother to explain 
that she was to keep herself in readiness to leave for 
England with Lady Florence and Miss Hogg on the next 
day. Katy withdrew, well pleased that all her troubles 
were over, and that after all Miss Hogg would not lose 
Tom, for she had not been slow to see how matters stood 
between them. She said to herself, ^^And to think that it 
is Walgrave who has brought them together again! 0, 
but he ^s a good man, to forgive Mamie, as he has done V’ 
It had been arranged between Walgrave and Miss Hogg 
that she was to leave for England on the next day, taking 
Lady Florence and a servant with her; and, as Katy could 


m 


MISS iioaa 


not leave her baby, old Mrs. Jerry would have to go with 
them. They must not delay their departure, for he feared 
that at any moment the lawyer or Mathew would either 
come, or telegraph, which would be worse, for their coming 
would take some time, and a telegram only a few minutes ; 
and that she must induce her father and her friends to 
believe that she was going abroad to buy her trousseau; 
no one would think it strange, as nearly all of the American 
ladies who belonged to the four hundred, as she did, get 
most of their dresses from England and Paris; and Miss 
ITogg had replied, ^Tt will not be all deceit, for I will have 
my wedding dress made in England.""^ 

^^And, Miss Hogg, I must tell you that I mean to 
accompany you, for all danger is not yet over. Should 
you on your arrival in England meet Mathew, or others 
who may have heard of your departure here for England, 
it would prove disastrous to our plans; and if I am with 
you I will protect you, not as a detective, but as a friend. 
I have not come here to leave my task half done; I must 
finish it, and will only leave you when you are in the safe 
keeping of Mr. Tom Eussell.’^ 

Ho wonder that Miss Hogg had cried and sobbed and 
had asked his pardon for her treatment of him. How noble 
was his conduct towards her! And he had added, ^^How 
that all the trouble is removed you must look happy and 
well, for your illness is only mental, and you will be well 
enough to leave here to-morrow.^^ 

That statement proved to be correct. She felt most 
anxious to be gone. 

Walgrave, after having settled matters with the Eus- 
sells, remained at the farm for the night so as to accompany 
Miss Hogg on the next day, for he would not allow her a 
moment out of his sight; he knew that the danger was 
not over and the reward was great and tempting; that 
should the lawyer, or even Mathew, meet Miss Hogg, 
having collected proof enough to have her arrested, it 
would be hard, even for him, to keep her out of their hands. 
A thought came to him, and he made up his mind to make 
use of it as soon as he arrived in Hew York, and he did so. 
After taking Mamie to her father’s office in Wall street 
to tell him of her intended departure for England and get 
a good big check, he left her at a small hotel, where he 


THE AMBKIOAN HEIRESS 


463 


would call for her to take her to the steamer. He had 
adopted this plan as the safest, for anyone coming to 
arrest Miss Hogg would naturally go to the house first, 
not to her father’s office, nor to a small hotel. After 
seeing her safely there, he called for his portmanteau at 
the hotel Avhere he had seen Lord Montgomery, and inquired 
if he was still there, and was told that he was in the billiard 
room; he sent in his card and had the pleasure of seeing 
Lord Montgomery in less than five minutes. Walgrave 
accosted him, saying, ^^My lord, will you grant me a favor 
without inquiring into my motive for asking it ? It refers 
to your cousin.” 

^^Certainly, Walgrave. What is it you wish me to do?” 

‘^It is this, my lord, that you withdraw at once the 
reward offered for the recovery of Lady Florence.” 

^^Double it, you mean?” 

Lord Montgomery, withdraw it, and I promise 
you news of 3^our cousin in less than a month.” 
will do so on my return to England.” 

^^Ho, no, it must be done at once; send a telegram 
to Scotland Yard, and one to Lawyer Bridgewell, that 
nothing will be paid under any circumstances. Let them 
think it strange if they wish. Will you do it?” 

^^Yes, Mr. Walgrave; I don’t see through your motive, 
still I know that you must have some clew.” 

He wrote the two telegrams and gave them to Walgrave, 
who soon had them sent, saying to himself, ^^This will 
stop the lawyer’s game if he is not already on his way here. 
As for Mathew, he will see a screw loose, and it may not stop 
him unless he gets positive orders from headquarters; 
then he must obey. Ah, Mathew, we shall see which of us 
shall win the game. You made a mistake when you came 
to me in Southampton. Did you imagine that I would 
remain inactive and see the woman I love brought to 
shame and disgrace? You have never loved, my friend, 
or you would have kept away from me. I want no reward 
for what I am doing; only Mamie’s happiness; and you 
shall not lay a finger on her while I stand by.” 

Walgrave was go excited that he looked ten years 
younger; he had a look of triumph in his dark eyes and 
he held his head up proudly; he was no longer dejected and 
broken-hearted, as we saw him at the rnins reafling his 


464 


MISS HOGG 


paper; he seemed to have found new life and energy. He 
got Miss Hogg to go aboard the steamer long before the 
time of departure^ and told her to remain in her stateroom 
until the steamer was on her way ; that he would see after 
Lady Florence and Mrs. Jerry, whom he also brought on 
board before the arrival of other passengers. He remained 
on deck to watch if any detectives were on the lookout foi 
Miss Hogg; he had taken her passage under the name of 
Eussell — two Misses Russell and servant, including Lady 
Florence, as it would look less conspicuous than different 
names. Miss Hogg, feigning seasickness, remained much 
in her room, and Lady Florence remained with her to nurse 
her and keep her company. She understood that Miss 
Hogg was running a great risk until they arrived at Lady 
Montgomery’s, and she had learned to love her and would 
have been sorry to see her come to grief for having taken 
her away from her aunt. She had been told that Miss 
Hogg had done it in a moment of anger, but she was still in 
ignorance of her real motives, nor was it necessary that she 
should know. Walgrave had not told her more than he 
could help. They arrived in Liverpool in due time. Miss 
Hogg and Lady Florence were to remain below until 
the other passengers had left the ship, and Walgrave would 
be on deck looking for any detectives who might have 
been sent to watch the arrival of the American steamer ; he 
knew their cut, and it was possible that they would not 
get ashore as easily as they had got on board ; for if anyone 
had telegraphed to Hew York about Miss Hogg, her father, 
who knew that she had gone to England, would say so, 
not knowing of his daughter’s danger. 

Walgrave’s precautions proved not to be in vain, for as 
the steamer ran into the harbor he saw Mathew standing 
among the crowd; Walgrave drew back behind one of 
the boats, signaled to Mrs. J erry, and, pointing out Mathew 
to her, said: ^^You know him; it is Mathew. He may or 
may not know that your mistress is on board ; I am going 
to speak to him and find out if he is alone; if he is, you 
will see me walk away with him. As soon as we are gone 
you take the ladies to the train and go straight to 
Southampton to this address. Here is a letter to my 
housekeeper that I wrote in case of emergency. I wiil 
rejoin you there when I have got rid of Mathew/’ 


THE AMEKICAN HEIRESS 


4G5 


Mrs. Jerry watched Mathew with great anxiety. Were 
they going to fail at the last moment when everything had 
been so well arranged by Walgrave? Was Mathew going 
to be the stumbling-block on their way to happiness? If 
Mathew knew that Miss Hogg was on board, not even 
Walgrave could prevent him from arresting her — not by 
force^ for he had the law on his side and v/ould use it. 
Would Walgrave's great love for Miss Hogg point out a 
way to him by which he could throw Mathew off the 
track ? If anyone could do it he could. His eyes had shone 
with courage and determination and it would go hard 
with anyone who tried to take Miss Hogg from him. 

Walgrave walked toward Mathew with a firm step, 
and tapped him on the shoulder, for Mathew had not seen 
him, nor had he expected to see him there, judging by the 
start he gave as he saw who had tapped him on the shoulder. 
Mrs. Jerry could not hear what they said, but after some 
words had been exchanged they both stood looking at the 
passengers as they left the steamer; then, when apparently 
the last one had left, Walgrave had passed his arm through 
that of Mathew, and they had left the pier together and 
soon disappeared around the corner of one of the streets, 
and Mrs. Jerry, seeing that the coast was clear, came out of 
her hiding place behind one of the boats, went down to her 
mistress, and in a few words told her what she had wit- 
nessed and what Walgrave had said, giving her the letter. 
They hurried on deck, signaled a cab, and soon had their 
trunks on top and themselves inside of it, and, ordering the 
cabman to drive to the station. Miss Hogg drew down 
the blinds and sat in her seat. She wore a thick veil, and 
so did Lady . Florence. Hot a word was spoken between 
them; each knew that there was danger; should Mathew 
suspect Walgrave he would soon have every train watched. 
Mrs. Jerry bought the tickets, and they were soon on 
board the train, for, as luck would have it, one was just on 
the point of starting, and it was an express that was 
taking the mails to London^ Hothing could prevent their 
reaching Southampton except a telegram, and if they 
passed London safely they would probably not be molested 
during the remainder of the journey; for should Mathew 
learn by some mischance that they had left by that train 
he would naturally think that they had got off at London, 


466 


MISS HOGG 


and they felt very much relieved when they had passed 
every station through London. In a few hours more 
to their great joy they arrived in Southampton. 

Miss Hogg hurried Lady Florence into a cab, while 
Mrs. Jerry looked after the trunks; then, having written 
Walgrave^s address, she gave it to the cabman, and as it 
was getting dark he was not surprised that the la;dy told 
him to go as fast as he could, for it was a ride of more than 
two miles along the coast. 

In about half an hour he bawled out, ^^Here be the 
place, miim,^^ and helped them down; then he tried the 
gate, but it was locked and it was some time before they 
could make anyone hear, though a large dog was barking 
furiously. At last the cottage door was opened by an 
old woman holding a lighted candle above her head and 
calling out, ^Js it you, sir? Have you come back?’^ 

^Xhme here, woman,^^ yelled cabby, ^S'e can’t talk to 
you so far off.” So she walked down the graveled path, 
her candle going out on the way. She looked very much 
surprised when she saw it was not her master, but ladies. 

‘'Ht must be a mistake,” she began, but Miss Hogg 
cut her sboit by saying: 

^^There ’s no mistake ; we are relatives of Mr. Walgrave; 
he will be here in a few minutes ; here is a letter which will 
explain all. Open the gate.” 

Miss Hogg spoke as one accustomed to be obeyed; she 
walked up to the house with Lady Florence by her side, 
leaving Mrs. Jerry to settle with the cabman and have 
him bring the trunks to the door. The housekeeper having 
lighted the lamp in the sitting room, they went in, feel- 
ing a sense of security that they had not experienced for 
many hours. They were very tired and hungry, and Miss 
Hogg asked that supper be served as soon as possible. 

The housekeeper, having read her master’s letter, ^vas 
all attention, and in less than an hour a very good meal was 
set before them. Then the spare room was prepared 
for the two ladies, and Mrs. Jerry was to sleep with the 
housekeeper or on the sofa in the back room, and she 
wisely chose the housekeeper’s bed as more comfortable 
after the long journey. 

The housekeeper, whose name was Mrs. Grant, was 
really a very nice old person, but excessively inquisitive; 


^i?HE AMERICAN HEIRESS 46^ 

she liked to find out people^s business, even that of her 
master, which greatly displeased him, and sometimes made 
him use rather strong language to her, as we have seen 
when he left the cottage; still, she was a very respectable 
old woman. 

Miss Hogg and Lady Florence occupied the same room 
and were pleased to do so, for they had much to say to each 
other, and could be heard talking long after they retired. 
At last everything was still in the house; every one slept 
peacefully; Miss Hogg had not slept so soundly for many 
years. When she awoke the sun was sliining brightly; 
Lady Florence was up and dressed and she smiled at 
her as she opened her eyes. 

^AVell, Mamie, you have slept well?’^ 

^A^es, my dear, I never slept better in all my life; and 
to think that I am under Mr. Walgrave’s roof enjoying 
such peace; has he come home yet?^^ 

^^Ho, Mamie, he has not; Mrs. Jerry is feeling very 
uneasy about him, and says that if he does idt make his 
appearance very soon we shall have to go to my aunt^^ 
without him; for should Mathew have outwitted him, he 
will be here himself instead of Mr. Walgrave; and, as 
you know, nothing that we can say will prevent his arrest- 
ing you, for the reward offered is a thousand pounds, 
and he ^s not going to lose that.^^ 

^^My dear Florence,^^ said Miss Hogg, laughing, to 
the great surprise of Lady Florence, ^ffhere is no longer 
any reward offered for your recovery. I forgot to tell you 
so; Mr. Walgrave had it withdrawn before leaving America, 
so that Mathew will gain nothing by comang after us ; still, 
he might do it out of revenge for all the trouble I have 
given him; but Mr. Walgrave is a clever man and will 
never allow Mathew to outwit him, if he has to keep close 
to him all the time ; and he will manage to let us know what 
he wishes us to do.^^ 

Miss Hogg had perfect faith in Walgrave^s great love 
for her, and she knew he would never allow her to lie 
taken; if he did not come he would send a telegram. 
She dared not tell Lady Florence that Walgrave loved her, 
but she said, ^A^e are safe in his hands and will soon 
see him or hear from him.^^ 

She had been dressing during this conversation, and 


mss H0(^ 


468 

after saying her prayers more devoutly than she had 
done for a long time, they both went downstairs just in 
time to see the postman give a letter to Mrs. Grant, who 
turned to Miss Hogg, saying, letter for you, Miss 
Eussell/^ Miss Hogg opened it and read: 

‘^^Dear Miss Hogg : Do not feel anxious ; I will be with 
you by two p.m. to-day. Be ready with the young lady to 
start with me for Lady Montgomery's residence. All is well. 
I left Mathew in London. Your sincere friend, Henry 
Walgrave.^^ 

Miss Hogg turned the letter over to Lady Florence 
and said, ^“^Let us have breakfast ; I ^m starved ; my appetite 
has come back to beat the band.^^ 

^^To beat what?’^ said Lady Florence, laughing. 

^^Well, you know what I mean; my appetite has re- 
turned wonderfully since I left America.^^ 

They entered the breakfast room and found the table 
laid in good style. Mrs. Grant and Mrs. Jerry had been 
up since five o’clock, helping each other, and had hot 
milk rolls, ham and eggs, a meat pie, smoking hot, with 
coffee and the sweetest of cream and butter. The silver- 
ware and porcelain were of the best. Miss Hogg looked at 
all these dainties and tears came to her eyes as she thought, 
^^This is all by Walgrave’s orders — dear, good Walgrave, 
whom I have treated so shamefully. 0, if I could only 
undo all the wrong that I have done him!” 

Her great repentance seemed to bring a blessing on 
Walgrave’s home, for they no sooner seated themselves at 
the table than a poorly dressed old woman was seen 
coming toward the house, for the large Newfoundland 
dog allowed her to pass him, only wagging his tail as she 
passed. 

^^What do you want, old Nancy?” asked Mrs. Grant, 
as she saw who had knocked at the door. can’t give 
you much, for my master is n’t at home.” 

have n’t come to beg,” answered old Nancy; only 
want to see Mr. Walgrave. Me and my old man wants to 
tell him something that we ’re sure he ’d like to know ; we 
can’t rest till he knows it.” 

^^My master won’t be back till to-morrow,” replied 
Mrs. Grant; ^^can’t you tell me? It will be quite safe 


rtHE AMERtOAN HEIRESS 469 

with me, whatever it may be, and as soon as he domes 
back I hi tell him/' 

^^Can’t do it, ninm; Mr. Walgrave mightn't like it; 
it's something that happened long ago, and my old man 
and me just found it out last night: I 'll come again 
to-morrow, for our old place is not fit for him to come into, 
though he did come to us when my old man was sick, 
sent in a doctor and paid the bill, and when my old man 
got better he got him a new fishing boat, as his had been 
knocked to pieces by the waves while he was sick. 0, Mr. 
Walgrave is a good gentleman, and if we had only known 
years ago what we do now — but good mornin', mum., I 
won't take no more of your time;" and she hobbled 
away. 

Miss Hogg and Lady Florence had heard every word, 
thought Miss Hogg, ^Vhat a noble man ! what a heart 
of gold he has!" and giving Mrs. Jerry a twenty shilling 
piece in gold, she said, ^^Give the old creature that; she is 
one of Mr. Walgrave's protegees f' 

Mr. Walgrave, after the exposure that had attended 
his betrothal to Miss Hogg, had retired from the force, 
and had come to live a quiet life in this pretty half cottage 
and half villa, with a fiower garden; he had nursed his 
grief for a while, and then had turned his mind, and part 
of his income, to relieving the poor and doing good in 
the neighborhood.” He had met old Haney and her husband 
in one of his walks along the coast. He seemed never to 
tire of looking at the large waves and big rollers as they 
came breaking on the beach ; they seemed to have an attrac- 
tion for him; the reader already knows why, as we have 
explained it. He had helped old James Gray in his illness 
and had bought him a new boat when his old weather- 
beaten one had gone to pieces during his illness. It had 
cost Walgrave thirty pounds for the boat alone, and they 
looked upon him as their benefactor. 

How what could those two old people have learned the 
night previous of sufficient importance to make Haney 
call at Walgrave's cottage? An old friend o£ her husband, 
whom they had not met for over twenty years, had been 
to see them the day before, and, though the Grays were 
poor, they did all in their power to -give him a welcome. 
Old Haney went out and bought tobacco, pip^s, a pot of 


4^0 iiisB hogS 

beer^ and half a bottle of brandy, eggs, and a rasher of 
bacon. Some of niy readers will say that the Grays, being 
poor, might have dispensed with the drinlv and tobacco, and 
I heartily agree with them; but my knowledge of the 
world has taught me that people of the lower order can- 
not enjoy themselves without drink, and that they will 
get it if starvation stares them in the face; they look 
upon it as a necessity of life. 

The poverty of the lower classes, with some few ex- 
ceptions, can be traced to drink and high living, and 
also attending parties and theaters, riding on Sunday, 
gambling, etc. — what they call having a good time, and 
what I call a sinful time. After these indulgences in sin 
can they say their prayers with a pure heart and go to 
rest in peace, ready to meet their Maker should it be his 
will to call them that very night? So few ever think of 
saying any pra3^ers; they are too tired, too sleepy. I have 
known people who have not said a prayer for thirty years, 
who had been religiously brought up by their parents ; and 
others who never learned to say a prayer. How strange 
that they could not learn to pray, even if they had not 
been properly taught ! They did not need much teaching 
to learn the wicked ways of the world. 

But to return to the Grays and their guest, John 
Brown by name. After they had all had a good supper 
the two men lighted their pipes and began to talk about 
old times, while old Haney mixed brandy and hot water 
for three, and brightened up the fire. 

^^WelV^ said John, ^^you seem to be pretty cozy here; 
you must be making money; I suppose you have a good 
stocking somewhere, eh?^^ slapping Grav on the back, 
nearly making him swallow his pipe. 

^‘^We jog along,^^ replied Grav, "^^but we have nothing 
laid by.^^ 

^‘^What ! Whose boat is that drawn up on the beach 
in front of your cottage ? I felt sure it was yours ; it cost 
a good penny, that it did.^^ 

^Ht is mine/^ said Gray, ^^but it was given to me after 
my old one was smashed to pieces by the waves when I was 
down with the fever.^^ 

^^You must have rich people hereabout to be able to 
give such a boat, and I glad of it, old fellow.’^ 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


471 


was Mr. Walgrave who gave it to me; you must 
have passed his house in coming, for it^s about half a 
mile from here; it has a beautiful garden; I never saw 
more beautiful flowers; and the house is a flue one and 
large for him, for he is alone excepting his housekeeper; 
he must be a bachelor, for I have never seen him with a 
lady/^ 

^^Walgrave,^^ repeated Brown; ^flt is not a common 
name ; I once knew a gentleman by that name ; he was a de- 
tective and got married at the church I was vestry clerk at 
at the time.^^ 

^^Strange,’’ said old Nancy; ^flt can^t be him, for this 
one has no wife.^^ 

^'Nor has the one I am speaking about; he lost her 
in that terrible shipwreck by the Needles; he and his 
wife were returning from a pleasure trip from the island 
of Jersey; the boat in which she was was upset and her 
liusband saw her, from the deck where he stood, sink to the 
bottom of the sea. The papers were full of it at the time. 
The young husband wanted to jump overboard to die 
with his young wife, but was kept back b}" some one, and 
he lay between life and death for months afterwards, so 
I should nT wonder if your Mr. Walgrave was the same. 
I saw him get married. What kind of a looking man is 
your Mr. Walgrave 

^^0, he ^s a tall, handsome man, with fine black eyes and 
pale complexion ; he must have had black hair and 
mustache, but now they are mixed with gray, and yet 
he does nT look more than forty years old ; he ^s quite 
a gentleman, but looks very sad at times. He loves to 
sit by the sea.'’^ 

^^Well, then, I fll bet my head that he ^s the same. Your 
.description agrees with that of the one I saw get married; 
his wife was a fair beauty with liair like gold and eyes 
as blue as the skies; she, too, was tall, and every one said 
they were a well-matched couple; he so dark and she so 
fair; no wonder that he nearly went mad vdien he lost her ; 
and when he saw her sink he cried with heart-rending 
anguish, ^0, my Isabelle, my Isabelle V Those who heard 
him never forgot that cry. But what ^s the matter with 
your wife, Gray?^’ as old Nancy, with a cry of ^^0, my 
God V’ dropped to the floor as if shot. Old Gray was also 


472 


MISS HOGG 


very pale, but of course it was natural, seeing his wife 
drop from her chair as she had done. They picked her 
up, rubbed her hands, poured brandy down her throat, and 
burned feathers under her nose until she must have been 
nearly choked. At last she opened her eyes. 

^^0, James, it must be the^^ 

But before she could say more Gray had caught her 
by the arnt, and with a warning look, he said, ^^Yes, Nancy, 
it must be the heat and our tobacco smoke ; the room ‘s 
so small ; you ^11 be better now ; I J1 open the window to 
give you fresh air.^^ 

‘^Yes, yes, James, that ^s it. I ^m getting all right; 
donT mind me.^^ And turning to John Brown, she said, 
^^That was a nice name* you were just saying — Isabelle 
— I wonder what was her other name; of course you donT 
know it?^^ 

^Tndeed I do ; was nT I there when she signed her 
name in the vestry? And I still remember it; for, as 
Mr. Nolan, the minister, said at the time, they both had 
uncommon names — Henry Walgrave and Isabelle de Court- 
ney.^^ 

Old Nancy^s eyes nearly popped out of her head, and 
Brown, noticing her, said, ^m afraid, Gray, that your 
wife is going off again.^^ 

^^No, no,^^ said Nancy, ^^but I ^m not well, and if you 
will excuse me I ^11 go to bed.^^ 

^^Well, you see,^^ said Gray, ^^Nancy is subject to these 
fits, though I did nT like to tell you before ; women donT 
like to have those things known; sheTl be all right when 
she goes to bed.^^ 

^^Well, I ^m sorry for you both, old chap, and perhaps 
I M better be going, for I ^m keeping you from her.^^ 

^^No, John, I can do her no good; I ^m sorry that 
she ^s happened to have one of her fits while you were here ; 
but after twenty years you and I have much to say to one 
another, and I ^m glad that you have told me about Mr. 
AValgrave ; I could n’t make out why he was so sad. How 
long ago did you see him get married?” 

^“^Well, let me think ; I was then sixty years old, and I ’m 
now nearly seventy-four; that’s it; so that it must be 
going on fifteen years, or thereabouts; that’s as near as 
I can make it ; and I was sixty-one at the time of the ship- 


^THE AMERICA^- HEIRESS 473 

wreck; but you must remember it^ Gray, for you lived 
here at the time, I believe/^ 

^^0, yes,^^ replied Gray, with a troubled look in his 
eyes, remember; it was dreadful, but as I did not know 
Mr. Walgrave at the time I couldn’t feel bad about him 
as I do now. I feel awful queer.” 

And he really looked bad, and John Brown thought to 
himself, ^‘^How tender hearted Gray is; he is a good old 
fellow.” He said, ^^Come, Gray, don’t be down in the 
mouth; take a good stiff glass of brandy and water, it 
will set you right again.” 

So they- both had a stiff glass and they said no more 
about Mr. Walgrave, but talked of their young days until 
it was time for John Brown to leave; but he promised to 
come again before he left for London. 

James Gray seemed relieved when he had gone. 
After locking the cottage door he went into the next room 
to his wife, whom he found very much excited. They had 
a long conference together and the result was what we 
have seen — ISTancy asking to see Mr. Walgrave to tell him 
something of great importance; she looked uneasy and 
nervous while asking for him, and greatly disappointed 
when told that he was away; and she had given a start 
when Mrs. Grant had called her back to give her the 
sovereign that Mrs. Jerry had passed to her, as she did not 
wish to be seen by anyone. 


474 


MISS HOGG 


CHAPTEE LXI. 

Mathew was very much surprised at seeing Walgrave 
in Liverpool — so surprised that he actually started when 
he saw who had touched him on the shoulder, and he had 
exclaimed, ‘^^You here, Mr. Walgrave, and with a port- 
manteau ! Are you going to America ? If so, come with 
me, for I intend going on the next steamer that leaves 
here for 'New York.^^ 

It was evident to Walgrave that Mathew had no idea 
that he had just come from America; he could not have 
seen him come ashore, and he thought it best not to en- 
lighten him on the subject; so he replied, ^^No, Mathew, 
I ^m not going to America ; I ^m going back home. I \e 
been visiting some friends for the past few weeks and 
I think it has done me good. I have taken your advice, 
you see. That ^s a steamer from America, just in, is nT 
itP 

^^Yes ; I was looking at the passengers coming ashore.^’ 

^^Did you perchance expect to see Miss Hogg?’^ laugh- 
ing merrily. 

^WYll, not exactly; though if I had the power to draw 
her to England by wishing she would be here and save 
me the trouble of going after her. I donT relish the 
trip.^^ 

^Tdave you evidence enough to warrant your going 
asked Walgrave. 

^'Yes; everything is correct this time; there ^s no escape 
for her. I ^m only sorry that I shall have to share the 
reward with Bridgewell, for I have done the work; true, 
be gave me the clew, still, I would rather have shared 
it with you, Mr. Walgrave.^^ 

^^Thank you, Mathew, I donT deserve you kind wishes ; 
but look here, all the passengers are gone and we had better 
go where you Ye staying ; I dl put off my departure for a 
few hours since I have met you,^^ and passing his arm 
through that of Mathew, he walked him away, as Mrs. 
Jerry had seen, and never looked back; for Mathew was 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


475 


cute, and had he seen Walgrave look back it might have 
occurred to him that Walgrave had some one on board 
to whom he wished to signal unperceived by him, and that 
he himself had been a passenger on board that steamer. 
Then who could be on board who must not be seen by 
him? Miss Hogg, by all that is wonderful! Walgrave^s 
heart beat fast as he walked arm in arm with him and saw 
him looking at his portmanteau in a rather suspicious 
manner instead of answering his questions as to where 
he was staying, so he hastened to say, ^^Do you know what 
I heard a week ago? That Lady Montgomery had with- 
drawn the reward offered for Lady Florence ; is that true 
^^CanT be,^^ replied Mathew, his mind deserting Miss 
Hogg and Walgrave’s portmanteau in a moment, and 
centering on the reward. 

^^Then why should there have been such a report, and 
for what purpose? But since you havenT heard of it 
of course it must be a false report, for they would have 
apprised you of it at once.^^ 

^^As for thaV^ said Mathew, looking very much 
troubled, ^They could not very well do it, for I have been 
traveling from place to place, sometimes on a wrong track, 
then a right one. I have had trouble, I can assure you. 
What a clever woman that Miss Hogg is ! If she had 
only had Lady Florence with her we could have traced 
her in no time; but when we thought we had her she 
faced us with the other fair little beauty. I wonder where 
she got her. I was sent to Paris after her, thinking that 
she must be Lady Florence — she is the same age — and 
when I got there she was gone, which strengthened my 
belief, though the mother superioress said that Lord Mont- 
gomery had been there himself and had declared that this 
young lady was not the one he was looking for, and she 
apparently spoke the truth; she said the young lady who 
had been with them had left for America, so I retraced 
my steps. But here we are at my hotel; it is only a 
restaurant, but good enough for a day or two.^^ 

They went in and asked to have breakfast served in a 
private room, where they could continue their conversation. 
When the waiter had left the room Walgrave asked, ^^Did 
you discover where Lady Florence had gone?^^ 

^^Yes, after a great deal of hunting^ for they woul^ 


476 


MISS HOGG 


all have it that her old nurse had taken her to Australia^ 
and I knew that that could not be so, as Lawyer Bridge- 
welFs letter had been returned from there, and that the 
old nurse could be no one else than Jerry’s mother. Those 
Jerrys have been a great help to Miss Hogg, I can tell you; 
she was lucky to find them. I thought where Miss Hogg 
is the Jerrys are sure to return; so having ascertained 
that Miss Hogg was in Hew York and had not been in 
Europe for nearly two years, I was certain that Mrs. 
Jerry would return to her after having placed the child 
elsewhere; so I went from hotel to hotel until at last I 
found one where Mrs. Jerry and Lady Florence had stayed 
for two days, and every one had remarked that w^hen they 
arrived the young lady was in the deepest mourning, and 
that two days later, w^hen they left, she was equally well 
dressed, but no longer in mourning, which had seemed 
rather odd, and had set the boarders talking, especially one 
old spinster more inquisitive than the rest, or having less 
to occupy herself with, who had followed them and heard 
Mrs. Jerry ask for first class tickets for Havre at the 
railroad station; that was all she knew; and she felt sorry 
that she had not followed them. I went to Havre, think- 
ing my task easy, for I felt sure that they had gone to 
America by way of Havre, and I said to myself, ‘^She is 
going to play us the same trick that she did in London, 
or why should she have taken the young lady from her 
school in Paris?’ But on my arrival at Havre, though I 
made every inquiry in my power, I was told that no one 
answering the description I gave had left for America, 
and I was at a loss what to do further, for I had firmly 
believed that they intended to go back to Miss Hogg. I 
was beginning to be dazed, as I used to be in London and 
Paris. That Miss Hogg has been the only one who could 
make me lose my head in all my experience as a detective. 
What a head she has !” 

^^Well, to continue my story: I was walking along the 
pier, looking at every ship, and wondering what I had 
better do next, when a seafaring man in a blue guernsey 
accosted me, saying, H am the captain of that schooner, 
and if you are looking for a cheap passage to Southampton 
I ’ll take you for a mere nothing.’ ^But you have no accom- 
modation for passengers,’ I replied, rather astonished at 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


477 


his offer. ^Well^ no, not for many; still, as it is a short 
passage, we hardly ever go back without some one. A 
lew months ago we had two ladies — that is to say the 
youngest was a lady, and of the right sort, I can tell you; 
no princess of the royal blood could surpass her. The 
older one must have been her servant, for she was called by 
the young lady. Nurse Mary, and she explained that she 
had lost her purse, or had been robbed — she could nT 
tell which ; but what she knew was that she had not money 
enough to reach England by way of steamers, and if I 
would take them to Southampton, where she was well 
known, she would pay me well. I did risk it, and, strange 
to say, though she had told me that she had no money, when 
she left us she put a fiver in my hand and walked away 
without giving the least explanation. Now was n’t that 
queer?’ and I admitted that it was, rather, and my heart 
beat with joy, for I knew at once that I was on the right 
track again, and I took passage in this fellow’s boat and 
questioned him on the voyage to Southampton; but he 
knew very little more than he had already told me, except 
that they had three large trunks, and had them taken 
to the railway station, Southampton. I went there and 
traced the three trunks — at least I made sure that the 
three trunks they told me of were the right ones, for they 
were addressed to Mrs. Martin, New York, per Cunard 
line, Liverpool. But I was assured that no one had gone 
with the trunks, so I hunted again for a clew of Mrs. 
Martin — as she had called herself— and her charge, for it 
was not the trunks I was after, but the young lady. 

^^Well, after hunting in every obscure hotel, and find- 
ing not even the shadow of a clew, I made up my mind to 
go to a hotel near the railway station, have my supper, and 
reflect upon what was to be my next move. I chose the 
Commercial Hotel, which you know is right opposite. 
After supper I inquired of the proprietor if he had seen 
any such persons as I described to him, not expecting a 
favorable answer, as his hotel is not a place anyone would 
go to to hide in; it is too public; but to my great surprise 
he said that he did remember having seen the parties; ho 
had noticed the great beauty of the young lady, and that 
the woman could not have been her mother. They had 
stayed for one night only and had left for London the 


478 


MISS HOGG 


next morning. I myself left for London that night;, and 
though I hunted in every likely place for a clew I didn’t 
lind any until I arrived here this morning.^^ 

^^And what clew did you find here?^’ asked Walgrave, 
who had made up his mind to keep Mathew talking as long 
as possible so as to give Miss Hogg time to reach the house 
in safety. 

‘AVell, I have found out that they both took passage in 
the same steamer the three trunks had been sent to, so that 
the young lady has not been left in England, and it will be 
easy for me to trace her in America.^^ 

‘^^Well, I suppose you are right, Mathew; but didn’t 
you call on Bridgew^ell and at Scotland Yard in passing 
through London 

^^No, I did not ; I had no positive clew, and so nothing 
to tell them; but I wrote to our chief this morning on 
my arrival here, telling him of my intention to go to 
America, and I will get his answer this evening. If I 
do I leave here to-morrow at ten a.m.^^ And he looked 
hard at Walgrave and said, ^^Do you know that a detective’s 
life cannot combine confidence with friendship? How, 
for instance, I have as much regard for you, Mr. Walgrave, 
as I have for my chief; and yet, as we were walking arm 
in arm, do you know what came into my head as I looked 
at that portmanteau of 3^ours?” 

can’t guess, as the Americans say,” laughed Wal- 
grave. ^AVhat was it? Tell us, Mathew.” 

^AYell, it was this: that you locked more like a man 
who has been on a sea voyage than one who had passed a 
week with some friends in Liverpool, and the thought 
came to me like a fiash, Ts Mr. Walgrave deceiving me? 
Has he been to America and warned Miss Hogg of her 
danger? How came he to be looking at that steamer com- 
ing into port — was he in it, perchance? Ho, for I looked 
at every one who came on shore and I did not see him.’ ” 
And Mathew’s eyes were bright and seemed to read Wal- 
grave; his detective instinct was at work in the most 
dangerous form. He was a remarkably clever detective, 
always on the alert, and, as he had just said, suspecting 
everybody, even against his will, and he was seldom at 
fault. 

Walgraye felt that there was danger in the air; that 


ME A^tERICAK HEIRESS 


479 


he must remain calm^ and above all not allow Mathew to 
read his mind ; so he looked at him, meeting his gaze fear- 
lessly, yet mildly, and laughed merrily as he said, ^"You 
have the detective fever bad, my friend ; just reflect for one 
moment and tell me sincerely if you think it likely that 
^liss Hogg would confess to me that she had taken and is 
hiding the young lady^ after what has passed between 
us ; and, if I had had any intention of warning her, would 
not a letter have done as well, and a telegram still better ? 
I give you my word that I have sent neither, and that I was 
going home when I happened to see you among the crowd ; 
and, if I had suspected that my presence would have 
worked upon your nervous system as it seems to have done, 
I would have passed on without making myself known. 
How admit that for once you are wrong.^^ 

^^Well, I may be; and I believe you to be incapable of 
telling a deliberate falsehood; still, I wish that you would 
answer me a question frankly and straightforwardly.^^ 
^^Certainly, my friend, if I answer at all it will be 
truthfully ; I reserve the right of remaining silent, however, 
should your question be of a nature to embarrass me. 
How, let^s hear the question.” 

^^Well, Mr. Walgrave, did it ever enter your head to 
try to save Miss Hogg from disgrace? I seem to read it 
in your face, though it looks so calm, and even mocking, 
at times, as if you were working a mine under my feet; 
then you, who were always so quick-tempered, and at the 
least word would fly into a terrible passion, — and here I 
have been saying that I suspect you, and you have been 
taking it as quietly as a baby takes its milk from the bottle ; 
that is not your nature ; to me it looks as if some one that 
you care for is in danger, and who can that be if not Miss 
Hogg, and if you lost your temper 3^011 might give me a 
clew? Then, what has surprised me is to hear you laugh 
so merrily ; knowing, as you do, that I have evidence enough 
to convict Miss Hogg, it ought to have the contrary effect 
on you, for I know that you still love her. When I went 
down to see you at Southampton you did not laugh at the 
news I brought you, but you turned pale, then suddenly 
became bright and happy looking. You are a clever man, 
Mr. Walgrave, still, to a good observer you show your feel- 
ings, and I knew that you were making a plan at that time 


MISS UOM 


480 

to upset mine. If I could guess that plan I would unravel 
the whole mystery in less than a minute. Now, my 
question is, Have you been to America or have you not?’^ 
Mathew said this suddenly and looked into Walgrave’s eyes, 
seeking his answer there rather than in Walgrave’s words; 
but he was disappointed, for at that moment a knock 
came to the door and Walgrave turned round to see who it 
was, and thus escaped Mathew’s scrutiny. That he was 
very uneasy under Mathew’s eyes he owned to himself ; his 
very calmness was evidence against him, and the knock at 
the door had been welcomed by him, though not by Mathew, 
who seemed to feel that he had Walgrave under the power 
of his strong will, and was on the point of making him 
betray himself ; so he asked the waiter rather sharply what 
he wanted. 

letter for you, sir; leastways a telegram;’^ and he 
handed Mathew a yellow envelope, which he opened, and 
read as follows: 

^^Come back at once ; there is no longer any reward for 
Lady Florence; it has been withdrawn this past week; 
canT understand the matter. We wired to Lady Mont- 
gomery; she knows no more than we do; the withdrawal 
came from Lord Montgomery, who is in New York; we 
have wired to him and he has pleaded ignorance and said 
that he has acted upon the advice of a friend. So come 
back; I want you in a mysterious murder case.^^ 

Mathew’s face darkened as he read, and, turning the 
telegram over to Walgrave, he prepared to watch him; 
but Walgrave was on his guard, and, opening his eyes wide 
as he read that Lord Montgomery was in New York, and 
looking at Mathew with a smile, said,^^Did you know that 
Lord Montgomery was in America 

^^No; canT understand it.^^ 

^^Well, you may depend upon it he has not gone there 
for nothing ; perhaps he is going to play detective himself, 
or has made up his mind to marry Miss Hogg, and she is 
the friend who has advised him to withdraw the reward 
offered for Lady Florence. It is as clear as day to me.^^ 

^Ht may be to you, Mr. Walgrave, but it is not so to 
me; and if my time was my own I would unravel the 
mystery, and my belief is that you would not be far from 
the bottom of it.^^ 


THE AMEittCAit HEIRESS 48 i 

my friend, don^t let ns quarrel; yon will know 
all in good time ; the most clever detectives make mistakes 
sometimes; yon made one when yon came to me with the 
news that yon were going to hunt down the woman I loved. 
Xow I will not discuss the subject any longer, nor will I 
answer any more qnestions.^^ 

Walgrave felt safe once more and he thought it best 
to admit that he had had a hand in it, for Mathew, having 
learned that Lord Montgomery was in J^ew York, would 
naturally think that Miss Hogg must also be there arrang- 
ing matters with him; so that he felt that the coast was 
clear for him to rejoin Miss Hogg. 

^^Well,^^ said Mathew, ^^you and I have always worked 
against each other — in our hearts, at least, even when 
employed on the same case, and in this one we have done 
our best to win and each to be first. You will win, for you 
are free to go and act as you think fit, while I must obey; 
if it were not so I would give you trouble yet, for I had 
you in a corner a moment ago, and one little mistake on 
your part would have betrayed the whole plot, and I was 
determined that you should make that mistake,^^ he said, 
his black eyes flashing angrily, though retaining his temper 
remarkably well under the trying circumstances, for it was 
hard for Mathew, who had felt himself so near success and 
half the reward almost within his grasp, besides the honor 
of having unraveled a five-year mystery. 

Walgrave felt sorry for him and promised himself that 
he should lose nothing by it, but he remained silent under 
Mathew’s angry looks; and when Mathew had calmed 
down Walgrave said, ^^Do you return to London to-night, 
Mathew? If so, we can go together.” 

^^Yes, I must obey orders. 0, if I were only free for a 
month I would bring this ease to an end that would fill 
the papers and the world with wonder,” and Mathew looked 
grand and courageous as he spoke, standing his full height, 
his head thrown back, his black eyes flashing with the 
knowledge of his power and ability. He was a handsome 
man, good to look upon ; and he must have had great self- 
mastery to have kept his temper so well during this trying 
scene. 

^^Well, let’s go,” said Walgrave, who thought that the 
sooner they left for London the better it would be for both 


MISS HOGd 


483 

of them, as he himself longed to be gone to see how things 
had progressed with Miss Hogg. 

After paying for their breakfast they walked to the 
railway station, each carrying his portmanteau, and very 
few words passing between them. They parted in London, 
Mathew alighting there while Walgrave continued his 
journey. 

They had parted friends, Walgrave having pressed 
Mathew^s hand, saying, ^^Good-by, Mathew, for a little 
Avhile; 1^11 see you again shortly; and believe me, things 
won't be so bad for you as they seem to-night.’^ 

And Mathew had returned the pressure, saying, ‘T 
have no ill will towards you; I ought to have known that 
you love her still. I Ve been a fool; that^s all; so, Mr. 
W algrave, good-by.^^ 

Walgrave continued his ride for some time, then 
changed for Cumberland, arriving there in the small hours ; 
he went to an inn and remained there until morning, when 
he breakfasted and left the inn for Lady Montgomery's 
mansion, and on his way he called at the telegraph office, 
sent a telegram to Miss Hogg, calling her Russell, as we 
have seen; he then continued his journey to Lady Mont- 
gomery's. He sent up his card and was soon received 
by her ladyship, who saw at a glance that he had good 
news for her and said so. 

^^You are right,^^ said Walgrave, ^^and I will not keep 
you in suspense. Lady Montgomery; your niece is found, 
but before she is returned to you I would like to discuss 
the matter with your ladyship and ascertain what your 
feelings are towards Miss Hogg, for it was she who took 
her away in a moment of anger, and it is she who, of her 
own free will, is sending her back to you. When you see 
Lady Florence you will see that if she had been under 
your own care she could not be more refined and ladylike 
than she is. She has been living most of the time with the 
Countess de Pascalina, and was visited there by Miss 
Hogg, to whom she has become greatly attached, as you 
will see for yourself when I bring her back to you, which 
I will do this very day. Miss Hogg has spared no expense 
on her education.^^ 

^Welh Mr. Walgrave, what do you wish me to do?^’ 
said Lady Montgomery, ^Tor T see that yon have a plan 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


483 


and an object in coining here, and I feel that if our 
Florence is relumed to us that it will be through your 
influence, so speak without fear; there are very few things 
that I would refuse you/^ 

‘^^Thank you. Lady Montgomery; my wishes are that 
everything should be settled without scandal, without ex- 
posing Miss Hogg to the censure of the world or of her 
parents, who are both unaware of what she has done; 
it would ruin her future life and be of no advantage to 
Lady Florence or to anyone else/^ 

^‘1 agree with you, Mr. Walgrave, in all you have said; 
I would rather it were done quietly, but I do not see how 
it can be done; her return after an absence of more than 
five years will have to be accounted for.^^ 

^^If your ladyship will allow me to explain my plans^^ — 
^Troceed, Mr. Walgrave, I am all attention.^^ 

^^Lady Florence has been, as I have already said, under 
the care of the Countess de Pascalina and has passed for 
her niece” — 

^Tardon me, Mr. Walgrave, for interrupting you, 
but how came the countess to become the accomplice of 
Miss Hogg in the abduction of my niece?” 

•^^The countess was quite innocent in the matter. Miss 
Hogg having represented the young lady as being a relative 
of hers whom she wished to have well educated. The 
countess, though of noble birth, was not rich, and she 
accepted the care of the young lady, and not wishing any 
of her acquaintances to know that she was only a boarder 
she told Miss Hogg that she would represent her as her 
niece ; and being well paid by Miss Ifogg, the best masters 
and a governess were secured for her, under whom she 
made surprising progress. How, my plan is, let people 
think that Lady Florence has really been under the care 
of her aunt, the Countess de Pascalina, her aunt on her 
father’s side, he being a French count not very much 
known in England; and the Countess de Pascalina, his 
sister, believing that she had the best right to her 
brother’s child, spirited her away from here and kept 
her with her until she felt herself dying, and then had 
given orders that the young lady should be returned to 
your ladyship after her death, for she is dead, the poor 
pountess, and has no near relatives living.” 


484 


MISS HOGG 


see no objection to yonr plan, Mr. Walgrave; it is 
practicable, and will hurt no one ; it will save Miss Hogg, 
in whom I see you are interested, from scandal; and as 
she has not brought up my niece in vulgar ignorance I 
will accept your proposal, and I wish to ask you a question : 
Do you know why Lord Montgomery withdrew the reward, 
as I have learned he has done?^^ 

^Ht was I who asked him to do it to prevent the scandal 
I feared so much.^^ 

^^Then you have seen him; has he returned from 
America 

^‘^jSTo, Lady Montgomery, I saw him there. I have just 
returned from New York with the young lady and Miss 
Hogg.^" 

understand, Mr. Walgrave, and I feel that we owe 
you much;’^ and she gave him her hand at parting as if 
he were an old friend, as he said, am going to bring 
home your niece and will be back here this evening. Good 
morning. Lady Montgomery and picking up his hat 
and cane he left the mansion well pleased with his morn- 
ing’s work. Taking his portmanteau as he passed the inn 
he soon found himself in the train for Southampton, and 
he reached his home at a little after two o’clock, looking 
very tired, but happy. 

Miss Hogg had ordered a good dinner for the hour of 
his arrival, which was a pleasant surprise for him, and in 
less than a quarter of an hour he had changed his dusty 
clothes and appeared much the better for it. Miss Hogg 
could n’t help thinking what a handsome man he was with 
his fine gray mustache and bright black eyes; any woman 
could love such a man. And how kind he was ! 

The dinner passed off gayly. He told Miss Hogg that 
he had been to Lady Montgomery’s and that she was 
expecting them to return with him ; that everything would 
go off smoothly. 

Miss Hogg felt greatly relieved and said, ^^How con- 
siderate of you, Mr. Walgrave ! I can never repay you.” 

"^^Be happy, and I will be more than repaid,” he replied. 

After dinner Mrs. Jerry was called in and told to 
dress Lady Florence in deep mourning, as she was dressed 
when she got her from the countess. Soon after three 
o’clock a carriage was driven to th^ gate to take them. 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 485 

to the station, having been ordered by Walgrave on his 
way home. 

Mrs. Jerry felt the parting with Lady Florence very 
deeply, for they were not likely to meet again. Lady 
Florence kissed her and cried also, though she said, ^^Don^t 
cry, nurse Mary, you must come and see me sometimes ; you 
have been good to me, and I dl tell my aunt so.^^ 

^‘^God bless you,^^ said the old woman. ^^You^re an 
angel 

The carriage rolled away to the station and in due 
time they arrived in Cumberland, and to their great sur- 
prise saw Lady Montgomery's carriage waiting for them. 
The coachman knew Walgrave; he touched his hat, and, 
the footman opening the carriage door, they all got in 
and were driven away at a quick pace. Miss Hogg could 
not help thinking of the time when she herself had been 
the driver of those horses. She met Walgrave’s eye and 
she blushed, for she knew that he also was thinking of 
those times. She felt ashamed and murmured, ^TTow 
could I ever have done such a thing They passed the 
lodge and were soon at the mansion. The footman — the 
same whose ears Miss Hogg had boxed for having smiled 
as she left the house with her mother — opened the door 
for them, and she .could see that he recognized her, though 
he tried to act as if he did not. 

They were shown into the drawing-room by the house- 
keeper, who seemed to have been waiting for them. Turn- 
ing to Mr. Walgrave, she said, ‘^^My lady^s orders were 
that the young lady should come up to her boudoir, as 
she wishes to see her alone first, but that she would not 
keep you nor the lady waiting long.^^ Then turning to 
Lady Florence, she said, ^‘^Lady Florence, I will show you 
the way to my lady’s room.” Walgrave and Miss Hogg, 
being left alone together. Miss Hogg remarked, feel very 
nervous; I ought not to have come. How shall I ever 
face the countess after the wrong I have done her ?” 

^^]\Iy dear young lady,” replied Walgrave, feeling sorry 
for her, ^^you have not done her as much wrong as you 
think ; that she has been very anxious concerning the child 
cannot be denied; still she had not lived with her many 
months; it is not as if she had been her daughter, or as 
if she had been with her from babyhood; aji^ the young 


486 


MISS HOGG 


lady herself has not been wronged by you^ as the Countess 
Montgomery must admits for had she remained with her 
she could not be more accomplished and refined than she is. 
She has had the advantages of travel and study in different 
countries under the care of the late Countess de Pascalina, 
and mixing in the best society of different nations, which 
is not usual with English ladies of her age. You have 
been kind to her and have loved her and I see that she 
is attached to you: so, as far as the young lady is con- 
cerned, you have done her more good than harm.^^ 

^"0, Mr. Walgrave, how good of you to speak so and to 
make so light of the great wrong I did years ago ! You are 
my angel of consolation ; you have saved me, given me back 
my peace of mind; how generous, how noble of you, after 
my treatment of you ! How could you forgive me ? For 
I can see that you have done so ; your conduct has proved 
that beyond a doubt. How I wish I could see you happy 
once moreP 

am happy. Miss Hogg, and to hear you speak as you 
have just done is balm to my sore heart. Let’ me see you 
perfectly happy yourself and I shall be content. And if 
you think I have helped to bring you peace and joy think 
sometimes of Walgrave.^^ 

Miss Hogg was greatly moved, and tears filled her 
fine black eyes, but she had no time to answer, for the door 
opened and Lady Montgomery and Lady Florence entered. 
The latter went straight to Miss Hogg and throwing her 
arms around her neck said, ^^Dear Mamie, my aunt is not 
angry; T have told her how kind you have been to mo 
and how dearly we love each other and she kissed her 
affectionatel}^ 

^^Florence is right f said Lady Montgomery, approach- 
ing Miss Hogg with her hand extended toward her; ^dct 
the past be forgotten ; let us never refer to it ; let it be as a 
bad dream, a nightmare. You have given me back my 
niece more perfect than I could have made her had she 
remained with us.^’ And she took Miss Hogg’s hand in 
hers, and seating herself by her side, she continued : ^Tive 
years have made a great (^ange in you, too, Miss Hogg; 
there is a softness in your eyes that I love to see there; 
I can see that love has touched your heart, and I hope you 
will be happy. My niece was telling me that you are 


THE AMERICAN- HEIRESS 48^' 

engaged to your cousin, and what a grand looking man he 
is; I am glad, my dear/^ 

^^It is good of you. Lady Montgomery, to forgive me 
so generously,^^ said Miss Hogg, with emotion, ‘^^and I 
am pleased that you have seen a change in me for the 
better, for I needed it. I owe most of that happy change 
to my mother’s people, who are not, as I was led to believe, 
ignorant and common, but, on the contrary, the Eussells 
come from good old stock who emigrated to America for 
the sake of their religion. I have been much with them 
these past two years, and I have learned much from them, 
and, as you must have noticed, I have improved in express- 
ing myself. I seldom use slang now, in which I used to 
rejoice, and believed it the right thing to do.” 

do perceive it, my dear, and I rejoice at it; though I 
would never have mentioned it if you had not done so 
first.” 

must also tell you. Lady Montgomery, that I agree 
with what you told me years ago and I could not under- 
stand at the time ; you said, ^If you wish to be happy marry 
in your own sphere of life,’ and I agree heartily with you. 
I shall be happy with my cousin Tom because we are 
equals; but if I had married a lord, as I wished to do 
years ago, for the sake of his title alone, not love, I should 
have ruined my own life and his too. I know now that I 
was not then, nor am I now, suited for a lord ; I should be 
humiliated and slighted by his set ; I should feel ashamed 
of my own father and his common ways, which are natural 
to him.; I should break the hearts of my parents when 
they discovered that I want their money but not their 
company. 0, how I wish that I could impress my senti- 
ments upon all our American heiresses, and teach them 
that happiness is not to be found in a title; the title roses 
have too many thorns for American girls; however they 
may try to hide the fact, the thorn goes deep at times, and 
the pain is terrible to bear. I would rather have Tom 
Eussell than a king.” 

^^You speak wisely. Miss Hogg,” replied her ladyship, 
^^and I wish with all my heart that your countrywomen 
would see witli your eyes and keep their money in their 
own country, instead of wasting it on old roues who have 
run through their own fortunes, and who marry the 


488 


MISS HOGa 


American girls^ money as the American girls marry their 
titles^ without a thought of love. ISTone should marry 
without love and out of their own sphere if they would 
enjoy peace and happiness. I am glad^ my dear, that 
your marriage is for love, and if you should come to 
England on your wedding tour come here and spend a 
month or two with us. Don’t refuse; you owe it to Lady 
Florence ; she will miss you.” 

Turning toward Mr. Walgrave, the countess added, 
^^And you, Mr. Walgrave, are included in the invitation.” 

Mr. Walgrave bowed his thanks, and Miss Hogg replied, 
^Tt is kind of you. Lady Montgomery, and I accept in my 
own name and in Tom’s; we shall certainly pay you a 
visit, for I wish you to see my cousin Tom, I have good 
cause to be proud of him; and I owe my happiness to Mr. 
Walgrave as you owe the return of Lady Florence to him; 
he has been my best and truest friend,” she said, with 
emotion. 

^^Believe me. Lady Montgomery, Miss Hogg exaggerates 
the service that I have been able to render her.” 

understand,” said Lady Montgomery, ^^and I appre- 
ciate your delicacy. I am very sorry that you are no longer 
a detective, for I am at a loss how to repay you for all you 
have done for us. You have been at great expense; that 
must be repaid as a matter of business between friends, and 
by right the reward is yours.” 

^^Ho, Lady Montgomery, the reward belongs to Mathew; 
I will have none of it ; and as for my expenses we will not 
speak of tliem. I have been well repaid by the pleasure 
that I have experienced in seeing you all happy.” 

^Well, Mr. Walgrave, I shall always count you among 
my best friends.” 

accept your friendship. Lady Montgomery; let us 
call the matter settled,” said Walgrave. 

^^And I,” said Miss Hogg, ^^have to return to your 
ladyship four thousand pounds ;” and she looked down and 
blushed. 

^^You have nothing to return to me. Miss Hogg; it is 
I who am in your debt, for what you have spent on my 
niece greatly exceeds the four thousand pounds, and I 
shall insist on repaying you as a matter of business. My 
niece is immensely rich and the interest of her income has 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


489 


been accumulating during the past five years ; and you have 
given her that which money can never repay — ^your love — 
which I am happy to see she returns sincerely. Don’t 
say one word, Miss Hogg/’ as the latter was about to 
speak; ^"^everything will arranged to the satisfaction 
of every one.” 

‘^‘^Dinner is served, my lady/’ said a servant at the 
door. 

^^Then let us go to dinner ; we shall be by ourselves ; we 
have no visitors to-day, and I am glad of it,” said Lady 
Montgomery, smiling. ^^Miss Hogg, take Lady Florence,” 
and, turning to Wal grave, ^‘^give me your arm, Mr. Wal- 
grave,” and she walked out of the room in the queenly 
manner that Miss Hogg had so much admired five years 
before. 

Walgrave certainly proved himself to be a true gentle- 
man and was not out of place walking by her side, and his 
manners at the table were unexceptionable and natural. 
Miss Hogg had improved greatly and very little fault could 
be found with her; her travels had certainly changed her 
for the better, and her love for her cousin had toned 
her down and brought a soft look into her fine black eyes. 
She was a finer woman at twenty-seven than she was at 
twenty-two. 

Lady Florence was quite happy, and she said, during 
supper, ^^What a pity that Mamie and Mr. Walgrave can’t 
stay here for good ! It would be nice ; don’t you think so, 
aunty ?” 

^^Yes, my dear, it would be nice for you, but I doubt 
if Miss Hogg would care to do so. What about Mr. Tom 
Eussell, eh?” and she smiled at Miss Hogg, who blushed. 

^^And Mr. Walgrave also has friends whom he cannot 
give up to please you, my dear; but they will come and 
see us as often as they wish, and be always sure of a 
hearty welcome from us all. I am sorry that my son is 
not here to join his welcome with ours. Does he know 
that Florence is here, Mr. Walgrave?” 

^^Hot yet. Lady Montgomery; I have left it for you to 
explain matters to him.” 

^^Then I must send him a telegram immediately.” 

After dinner she sent a telegram to his lordship telling 
him to return immediately, that Lady Florence was at 


490 MISS HOGG 

home and had been with friends all the time since her 
disappearance. 

Miss Hogg and Mr. Walgrave wished to take their 
departure^, but Lady Montgomery would not hear of it as 
it was nearly eleven o’clock. ^‘^Time has passed so quickly 
and pleasantly for every one/^ she said, ^^you will remain 
here to-night; it will be pleasanter for you both to go to- 
morrow morning ; you look very tired.^^ She rang and gave 
orders to show Miss Hogg to one of the spare rooms and 
Mr. Walgrave to another. The latter was not sorry to 
remain, for he had not rested since he had met Mathew 
and he felt greatly exhausted. 

Miss Hogg was pleased to remain one night more 
with Lady Florence, who, taking her to her own room, 
said, ‘^^You must sleep in my room to-night; I have so 
much to say to you.^^ 

^^Yes, dear, and I shall be glad to be with you a few 
hours more,^^ Mamie replied as they walked away together. 
Lady Florence had intended to have a long talk with Miss 
Hogg, but no sooner had her head touched her pillow 
than she fell asleep and Miss Hogg was left to her own 
reflections; and she did reflect, and wonder at all the 
events that had occurred during the flve years that had 
elapsed since she was almost driven away from the very 
house in which she was now passing the night as a welcome 
guest. And Walgrave, on whom she had played so many 
tricks and whom she had so often outwitted, was under 
the same roof as herself and had proved to be her best 
friend. W^hat a brave, noble-minded man he was and how 
basely she had acted towards him ! Her treatment of him 
weighed heavily on her mind; everything else that slio 
had done to others had been repaired, and no one would 
feel the ill results of her actions — no one but Walgrave. 
All the past had been washed away, so to speak, and a 
bright future was opening for each one who had been 
mixed up in her misdeeds, even herself, who so little 
deserved it. Only Walgrave had been crushed and his 
future life had been blighted by her; and she owed him 
her present peace of mind and future happiness; and he 
not only forgave her, but asked her as a favor to himself 
to be happy, and he would feel well repaid for whatever he 
had been able to do for her. 0, his love was indeed true 


MK AMEKICAN IIEIKESS 49 1 

love ! To give her up to another and ask her to be happy 
with that other; she could not have done what he was 
doing. ^^And to think that I have wrecked that noble- 
hearted inan^s life and that all my repentance will avail 
him nothing! 0^ the thought of it will be a thorn in 
my happiness! If I could only see Walgrave happy once 
more I would give much, but I would never dare offer him 
money ; it would do -with many, but not with him and 
she fell asleep, her eyes wet with tears. She had a great 
deal to be thankful for, still, her happiness vras not com- 
plete; her misdeeds faced her ; they could not all be repaired. 
And so it is with many of us who have done wrong ; there 
are things that cannot be undone ; that will leave a shadow 
on our lives and poison our peace of mind unless we have 
become so hardened in sin that our conscience is dead 
to every good feeling and has ceased to trouble us till 
death stares us in the face ; and I hope none of my readers 
have reached this point of iniquity. 

The next day the sun rose brightly; not a cloud could 
be seen to spoil its beauty. Miss Hogg looked at it as 
she said her prayers by the window, and murmured, ^^0, 
if my horizon could be as clear ! May God in his mercy 
send peace and joy to poor Walgrave^s heart,^^ was her 
sincere prayer. 

Lady Florence awoke, and, seeing Miss Hogg on her 
knees, jumped out of bed and knelt by her side, for she 
was a Catholic, like Mamie; her father was a Frenchman 
and a good Catholic, and the Countess de Pascalina had 
been a Catholic; she said, ^Tjet us pray together; it may 
be long before we can do it again f and Miss Hogg, throw- 
ing her arms around Lady Florence's neck, they both 
prayed for each other’s welfare; then they kissed one 
another with tears in their eyes, for they would have to part 
that day. Lady Florence was about to ring for her maid, 
but Miss Hogg said, ^^Ho, dear, don’t ring; I am going 
to help you to dress;” and she did so with loving hanfls, 
curling and combing her beautiful hair, and thinking 
of the night when she and Katy had cut it short. Then 
they went down and saw Walgrave in the garden, where 
they joined him; he looked calm and peaceful as he wished 
them good morning. Miss Hogg told him that it was her 
intention to go straight to London on leaving there, and 


MtSS HOGG 


m 

that he could send Mrs. Jerry to her on his return home; 
but she added^ as she saw the smile leave Walgrave^s face, 

must see you again before I leave England. Will you 
come to' London and see me off, or would you prefer to have 
me call at your house? You are aware that I care very 
little for etiquette.^^ 

^‘^Miss Hogg/^ replied Walgrave, ^^you will always be 
welcome at my home, but I intend to go to London; T 
must settle matters with Mathew.^^ 

^‘Poor Mathew, said Miss Hogg, laughing merrily at 
past recollections; and Walgrave, to her great delight, 
joined in; she had n^t heard him laugh so heartily since 
their meeting after years. 

^^Then,^^ continued W'algrave, shall have to see what 
can be done with that lawyer; I am afraid he will give 
us trouble; still, do not feel any anxiety concerning him; 
leave him to me. Miss Hogg.^^ 

^‘^Thank you, Mr. Walgrave; and as the fellow will 
require money to shut his mouth I will give you a check 
before I leave here.^^ 

^^Time enough when I see you in London, Miss Hogg, 
I hear the breakfast bell, so I suppose we had better go 
in. Where is Lady Florence gone ? 0, here she is with her 
hat full of flowers.'’^ 

Lady Florence came up, saying, ^^The gardener has 
cut these flowers for me ; I ^m going to make a buttonhole 
bouquet for Mr. Walgrave and pin it on his coat myself ; 
and you, Mamie, shall have a large bouquet to take with 
you to London.^^ 

They then returned to the house, where they met the 
Countess Montgomery, who kissed her niece affectionately, 
and gave her hand to Walgrave and Miss Hogg, as she 
wished them good morning. 

After breakfast Walgrave left for his home, being 
taken to the station in Lady Montgomery’s carriage. As 
for Miss Hogg, she was persuaded to remain another day. 
Then she left for London, taking with her the best wishes 
of Lady Montgomery and Lady Florence for her happi- 
ness. 

Mrs. Jerry was already in London waiting for her. 
Miss Hogg occupied herself giving orders for her trousseau, 
and the best dressmakers were employed to make the 




AMERtCAiT HEIRESS 

wedding dress^ which was to be of ivory satin, and the 
finest point lace. She was really growing very tired of 
trying on dresses, and would be glad when it was over and 
her trousseau completed. 

One afternoon she was trying on her wedding dress 
for the last time when the servant brought her a card. She 
read ‘^^Henry Walgrave,^^ and, in pencil, ^^Can I see you 
for a few minutes? It is a matter of importance.^^ It 
gave Miss Hogg a shock that Walgrave should happen to 
call on her when she was dressed as a bride. She sent 
word that she would be down in a few minutes, and order- 
ing the dressmakers to take off all her finery as quickly 
as possible — she would not have had Walgrave see her 
in her wedding dress, or even have him know what 
she was doing when he sent up his card, — she hurried 
down as soon as possible, still, it had taken more than 
half an hour; and as she entered the room to which 
Walgrave had been shown she saw that something had 
happened to make him look so anxious and excited as he 
did, and she could see that it was a personal matter with 
which she had very little to do. 

^m afraid. Miss Hogg, that I ^m disturbing you,^^ he 
hastened to say, as she held out her hand to him, ^^but the 
fact is I could not wait; it is of the greatest importance 
that I should learn the facts as soon as possible, and I 
think that you can help me, or your mother could if she 
were here.^^ 

^^Hever think for a moment, Mr. Walgrave, that you can 
disturb me, and I am sorry that I have made you wait 
so long; and though I don’t know what you mean, be 
assured that I will do anything in my power for you with 
the greatest pleasure. You spoke of my mother; if it 
is anything you wish to know about her I can enlighten you 
as well as she could ; dear mamma has no secrets from me ; 
she is the best woman in the world.” 

^^Thank you, M iss Hogg ; but I ’m afraid that I am 
going to take up much of your time, for I have much to 
tell you and to ask you.” 

^^My time is yours ; a whole week, if you wish it. Sit 
down, Mr. Walgrave, and don’t hurry on my account; 
take your time and tell me how I can help you and seat- 
ing herself in an easy chair facing Walgrave, she prepared 


Miss nom 


m 

to listen attentively to what he seemed so anxious foi* 
her to know. She saw that he was paler than usuah and 
yet there was a light in his eyes that she had never seen 
there before; it was hope and joy combined, and yet a 
certain fear and uneasiness that, cute as she was at reading 
faces, baffled her for once ; so she waited with some anxiety 
to hear what he could have to tell that affected him so 
deeply. 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


495 


CHAPTEE LXII. 

After leaving Miss Hogg at Lady Montgomery's Wal- 
grave arrived safely at his home, and after dinner told Mrs. 
Jerry that she was to go to London and join her mistress 
there. His housekeeper was out at the time, and only came 
back as Mrs. Jerry was leaving the house, the cabman 
having already the trunks on top of his cab. The two 
old women bade each other good-by and the cab was soon 
out of sight. Old Mrs. Grant, seeing her master on the 
step, hurried up to him, saying,^T hn so glad you \e come 
back, sir; old Haney Gray has been here twice and she 
seemed so anxious to see you ; she would nT tell me what 
she wanted. She said she hadnT come to beg; that was 
all I could get out of her; she told me that she would call 
again in the evening, sir, and to be sure and let you know.^^ 

^^Well, Mrs. Grant, I caiTt imagine what she can want 
with me; perhaps old James Gray has got himself into 
trouble ; I J1 go down and see.^^ He put on his hat and 
walked away, followed by Carlo, who was rejoiced at 
having his master back again, and barked at him, jumped 
at him, and showed his pleasure in every imaginable way; 
ran ahead, then rushed back again, pulling him by the 
hand; then ran to the beach, where he thought his master 
was going. 

When Walgrave reached old Gray’s cabin he knocked 
and walked in. The two old people were there. Haney 
gave a scream as she saw him and seemed on the point 
of fainting again, and the old man’s hands trembled as 
he set a chair for Mr. Walgrave, who looked at them 
both in great astonishment, for his presence did not usually 
bring a look of fear to their old faces. 

^‘^What has happened. Gray? You both look as if I 
had come to arrest you, instead of giving you a helping 
hand, as I am ready to do if it is in my power.’^ 

^^0, that^s too much,^^ cried old Haney. ^^When you 
know all you won’t say that much. 0, Mr, Walgrave, 


496 


MISS HOGG 


we have both done you a great wrong and we ^11 be hanged 
for it/^ 

^^Yes, yes/^ said the old man, ^^be hanged, nothing less, 
for every one will say that we murdered them both; who 
is there to say we didn’t? And yet Mr. Walgrave must 
be told, he has been so good to us.” 

'^‘^Look here, my good people,” said Walgrave, sternly, 
^^you are laboring under some mistake; it has never been 
in your power to injure me in any way, so let me hear at 
once what you have to say.” 

Mr. Walgrave, we only found it out the night 
before last ; yet we never knew that we had done the wrong, 
and we had no idea that it was to you that it had been 
done,” said Nancy. 

Of course Nancy and her husband used many slang 
words and low English that it is not m.y intention to write 
here; I think it often puzzles the reader; it has puzzled 
me often in reading books; so much so that I was quite 
unable to understand what I was reading. 

^^Well,” said Walgrave, ^det me hear it, and I shall 
be able to judge for myself if you have wronged me.” 

• He could not understand them; he felt no uneasiness, 
and what was coming upon him like a thunderbolt was 
very far from his mind; but at the first word he turned 
deadly pale. 

^^Tell him, Nancy, I can’t do it,” said old Gray, hiding 
his face in his hands. 

^^Then I must,” said Nancy; ^Ve are sure to be hanged 
anyway;” and looking, not at Walgrave, but at the floor, 
she began: ^^Do you remember about thirteen years ago 
when the Jersey packet was wrecked on the Needles?” 

Walgrave’s heart stood still and he felt himself grow- 
ing pale. What were they about to reveal? Something 
terrible, but what could it be? He said not a word, but 
waited, holding his breath, never answering Nancy’s ques- 
tion ; but she went on : ^^Yes, it is even more than thirteen 
years ago. Well, it was so foggy that nothing could be 
seen even six feet away. My old man had gone fishing 
with his partner that morning; there was no fog when 
they left here, but it came on about an hour after they had 
gone. I was uneasy, and often looked toward the beach 
to see if they had not put back, but I could see notfiing 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 497 

of the boat. I heard cannon shots as if a ship was in 
distress.^^ 

Walgrave’s face grew paler and paler, and the cold 
perspiration rolled down his face. He seemed to be on 
board that steamer in distress once more and the horrible 
scene passed anew in his mind like a panorama; he saw 
his young wife go down; his anguish was terrible to wit- 
ness, but not a word escaped him. What were they going 
to tell him? For what purpose were they reopening his 
wounds and making them bleed afresh ? 

Haney never looked up, but went on: heard guns 

at intervals, and some answering on shore; then some 
steamers whistling here and there in the fog, then all was 
still. I stood in the doorway all the time, though I could 
see nothing. At last I heard a footstep coming nearer 
and nearer, and I called out, ^Is that you, James ^Yes, 
Haney. ^ Then I saw him coming alone but carrying some- 
thing in his arms,* and I went to him, saying, ^What have 
you there, is it Jim, is he drowned?^ ^Yes,^ said he, ^Jim, 
my partner, is drowned, but this is not him I have here; 
let me in.^ He went in and laid down on the floor the 
bundle that he carried, and, opening an old sail, he dis- 
covered to my eyes the body of a beautiful young girl with 
yellow hair.^^ 

^^Stop shrieked Walgrave, jumping to his feet; ^^my 
wife, 0, my God, my Isabelle ; and I never was told of it ! 
Speak, woman, what did you do with my wife^s body 

^^0, Mr. Walgrave, we did nT know she was your wife; 
but I have worse to tell you yet.’^ 

^Was she alive? Did you murder her?^^ he asked with 
a voice choked with anguish. 

^^Ho, no, we did nT murder her,^^ groaned the old 
man. 

^^Ho,^^ said Haney, ^^but she was alive.^^ 

^^Alive! alive repeated Walgrave, ^^and where is she 
now? Tell me, does she still live?^^ 

^^Ho, no, Mr. Walgrave, she died before morning; do 
let me tell you.^^ 

Walgrave sat down again looking ready to drop. For 
a moment the mad thought had entered his head that his 
wife was still living ; if his brain had been clear he would 


498 


MISS HOGQ 


have seen the impossibility of her being alive for thirteen 
years without his knowledge. 

^^YeS;, she was alive/^ said the old woman; ‘^Ve dis- 
covered that after working three honrs to revive her; 
she had beautiful clothes on, but they were wet, so I sent my 
old man out and I undressed her and putting on her some 
of my old clothes — an old patched nightgown and a night- 
cap which hid her yellow hair, — I got her in our bed, and 
I did not expect her to live an hour, for she never recovered 
consciousness, but only moaned as if in great pain. We 
had found a purse in her pocket containing twenty golden 
sovereigns and a few shillings. We two had never seen so 
much money in all our lives before; still, I must say that 
we had no intention of keeping the money; if the lady 
lived she would get it all back, but she was not likely to 
live, and we thought it best to say nothing about the money 
to anyone when the lady was dead. We also found on her 
a beautiful gold watch and chain ; we have it yet, as we did 
not dare to sell it as it had initials on the inside. She had 
also beautiful rings on her fingers, one was a wedding 
ring ; we have that also for the same reason as the watch. 
The other rings had precious stones in them; we sold 
them later on.^^ 

^^ISTever mind the rings,^^ said Walgrave, lifting up his 
pale face, and looking at the old woman; ^Vhat did you 
do with my dear wife’s body? Tell me. Surely you did 
not put it back into the sea ?” 

no, Mr. Walgrave, we did not; but I have some- 
thing more to confess to 3 ^ou. In trying to bring her back 
to life I made a discovery; she was soon to become a 
mother.” 

Walgrave groaned bitterly. The sufferings that he was 
enduring were worse than death to him. 0, why revive all 
those terrible times, since she was dead ? Why not tell him 
simply that she had died and where they had buried her ; 
but no, old Nancy would tell him all the harrowing cir- 
cumstances as if she were taking pleasure in his sufferings. 
Yet this was not the case. Old Nancy seemed to be passing 
through the scenes of thirteen years ago ; in her mind she 
saw the lady as she was then, and everything that she 
herself had done was visibly recalled as if it had only 
just occurred. Had she looked up at Walgrave and seen 


(THti AHi^KtCAiT HtiiRES^ 499 

his pale face working with the anguish that he was passing 
through she would have come back to the present time ; but 
her eyes had not been removed from the floor and her mind 
was entirely on the dreadful scenes of thirteen years ago; 
and she continued: 

^^When I made that discovery the devil tempted me 
and showed me a way by which we could keep all that 
we had found on this lady and risk no discovery. I told 
my old man and he agreed with me.^^ 

did, I did/^ moaned the old man; ^^you tempted 
me as Eve did Adam; woe is me, I shall never know 
peace again 

^‘Well,^^ continued Nancy, without replying to her 
husband, ^Svhen we had agreed what tale to tell about 
this young lady 1 sent James for the doctor, and while ho 
was gone I hid the clothes all wet as they were, and taking 
all her rings from her Angers, even her wedding ring, I 
hid her face as much as possible with my frilled nightcap, 
and smeared her face so that she would not look over 
clean. I made her lose the appearance of a lady by all 
the rags I put around her. Then I waited for the doctor, 
not without anxiety, for if he should discover the trick 
that we were playing him we would soon And ourselves 
in jail, for he was not the man to help in any fraud if he 
knew it; but we had a pretty good name and were looked 
upon by most people as being honest folks, though poor, 
for somehow we could never save. Well, when the doctor 
examined the lady he turned to me and said, ^What is the 
meaning of this T I thought he had discovered all ; but no ; 
and he continued, ^This young woman looks to me as if 
she had been under water for some time; how is it?’ I 
began to snivel, with my apron to my eyes, and said : Tt is 
my fault, doctor; she is our daughter, who left us two 
years ago and went wrong. She came to me this morning 
in that thick fog. I was alone, James having gone 
fishing with his partner. I heard a knock at the door and 
wondered who it could be. I opened the door and saw 
my daughter Mary standing there, and, seeing how matters 
were, I said, ^^Get out of my sight, you tram^ ! have you 
come to disgrace us in our old age ?” She fell on her knees 
and cried out,^^0, mother, take me in, do, and I ’ll reform.” 
But I was furious at the disgrace she was putting on u^ 


500 


MISS mm 


and I drove her from my door and locked myself in. In 
about half an hour I heard James calling to me to open 
the door; I did so, and there he stood holding Mary in 
his arms all wet, and looking like a corpse, and I gave a 
scream as I said, drove her to it.^^ ^^No more than I 
did,^^ said James; met her on the beach and she had 
the cheek to ask me to take her back in our home ; I told her 
to make herself scarce or I would knock her brains out with 
the boat hook; and turning away from me she leaped into 
the sea from the small wharf where I generally fastened 
my boat; Jim leaped after her to try to save her and he 
was carried out to sea by the current. I untied the boat 
and tried to save them ; my heart softened toward my poor 
misguided girl; I made a grab at her clothes with the 
boat hook, and after several misses I succeeded in dragging 
her into the boat. Then I looked for Jim, but saw nothing 
of him, the fog being so thick. I called but received no 
answer. Then I turned the boat towards the shore, and 
taking Mary in my arms I have brought her to you, but 
1 believe she is a corpse.^^ 

That is what James said to me, doctor, and I put 
my girl to bed and sent for you. I have done all I could 
in the meantime, but though she ^s not dead I canT make 
her come to; perhaps you can.^ But he shook his head, 
for he had been trying all the time I was talking, and he 
said. There ^s no hope, and it may be as well for you 
that it is so ; still, her disgrace will be known ; it canT be 
hidden. I J1 do all in my power to save her ; if she ^s to be 
saved I J1 do it, but she ^s too far gone, I ^m afraid.^ He 
stayed with her all the afternoon and part of the following 
night, but toward morning she passed away.^^ 

Walgrave^s sobs could be heard — sobs that shook him 
from head to foot ; but not a word did he utter. 

^Tes,^^ said the old woman, ^^she had passed away, 
leaving us with a tiny baby girl.^^ 

and where is it — did it die? DonT tell me that, woman, 
^^What!^^ said Walgrave, leaping to his feet; ^^a child, 
if you donT want to see me drop dead at your feet, and be 
the cause of my death as you have probably been the cause 
of that of my wife and child. Answer me, did she live 
^^She did live, and may yet be alive for aught we know. 
Let me tell you all, sir.^^ 


(THi) AMERICAN HEIR^ISS 601 

' Walgrave sat down again^ but he had a terrible look in 
his eyes as he fixed them on old Nancy. 

^^The doctor gave us a certificate of death for our 
daughter, as he thought^ and we had her buried in the 
little churchyard yonder, I fil show you the grave when- 
ever you wish; and as for the baby^ we kept it for three 
weeks, and then made up our minds that it would n^t 
pay to keep it, and that it would be a great trouble to me ; 
so we agreed to send the baby to the poorhouse^ where she 
could have better care than we could give her, but we 
did not wish every one to know it: so one day I met the 
doctor, and I told him that the party who had led our 
girl astray, having somehow heard how she had died, felt 
sorry for his share in the sad event, was willing to take 
charge of the baby and had sent us two sovereigns for 
my expenses to London, for he wished me to take the 
child there to him as he did n^t want to be known about 
here; and I showed the gold to the doctor, so that he 
believed me, and advised me to go, as it would be better for 
us and the child, he said. He never said anything more 
about the child and it ^s all forgotten now.^^ 

^^But where did you leave my child said Walgrave; 
‘^^Vhy not tell me at once? Don’t keep me in suspense; 
you are driving me mad.” 

^^0, I left for London, taking the child with me, hav- 
ing wrapped around her a piece of her mother’s chemise 
that I tore off with the name of Isabelle de Courtney.” 

^^0, there ’s no doubt ; that was her name. My own dear 
wife, had I been near you you might have lived. But go 
on ; what did you do next ?” 

H wrapped her up, as I have said, in the piece with the 
name, and a petticoat with the same name on the waist- 
band; then I covered her all over with an old black shawl, 
and taking the rings and some money, I left for London. 
On arriving at Waterloo Station I got into an omnibus and 
crossed the bridge. I hardly knew where to go for I had 
never been in London before. I got down from the ’bus 
a little way past the bridge on the west side, I was told it 
was, and I walked about till I saw a small coffee shop, 
which I entered, had something to eat, and gave the baby 
some warm milk; then, as it was getting dark, I left the 
coffee shop and after walking for half an hour I found 


502 HOGO 

myself by the bridge again. I had been going back to 
where I came from instead of into the town. I turned 
my back to the bridge and walked up the street facing me 
for some time, then I turned to my right and walked 
what seemed to me a great way, for I was getting tired. 
All the lamps were lighted and I was getting very puzzled. 
I saw what looked to me a small garden railed up on my 
left; I had a mind to leave the baby there as I dared not 
ask the way toapoorhouse ; but just then a policeman passed 
me, and I fancied he looked hard at me, and if I left the 
baby there he would know me again and I would get into 
trouble ; so I walked on and soon arrived at a large church 
on my right, and on my left was a private hotel — I am 
sure of that — and the street was rather dark, having no 
shops ; only the gaslight in the street. I looked about, there 
was no one passing, so I put the baby just inside the rails 
of the church so that it would not get hurt by pedestrians, 
but could be seen and heard as soon as it began to cry. I 
then turned the corner on my right above the church, and 
seeing an omnibus for London Bridge, I hailed it, and 
having passed the bridge I got down and looked for a shop 
with three balls, as James had told me to do. I soon saw 
two or three of them, and going into a shop I offered the 
two rings for sale. The man was a Jew; he looked at the 
rings, then at me, saying, ^^How much do you want for the 
two T and as I did iiT know the value I said, AYhat do you 
think they are worth to you?^ He said, ^They are worth 
five pounds to me and nothing to you,^ grinning in my 
face as he said so. I was no great judge of precious stones, 
still I expected him to say Twenty pounds,’ and I told him 
so. He glared at me and said, Take the five pounds and 
think yourself lucky that I don’t send for a policeman.’ 
I took the money, left him the rings and hurried away. 
I passed the night at a coffee shop and came back here 
the next day. That ’s all I have to say. I have never heard 
who found the child to this day.” 

Going to an old trunk, she took from it an old tin box, 
saying, ^Tou will find in here the watch and chain and 
wedding ring.” 

Walgrave took it, and putting it mechanically into his 
pocket, rose to go; but before going, he turned to old 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 503 

James Gray, and asked, Where did you. pick up my wife?^^ 
His voice sounded strange even to himself. 

The old man answered without looking up, ^Tt was too 
foggy for us to fish, so we turned back and tried to find 
our way home, but we were a good distance away. In passing 
one of the currents we saw the body of a woman, and as 
Jim could swim he jumped after her while I turned the 
boat to pull them in. He had the woman in one arm while 
he held fast to the side of the boat with his other hand. 
I took the woman from him and got her in my boat with 
much difficulty, and, having done so, I laid her on a sail ; 
I then turned back to look for Jim, who had, I thought, got 
into the boat by himself, but no Jim was there. I looked in 
the water, as far as I could see in the fog, but I saw 
nothing of him; I called at the top of my voice, but no 
answer came. I sailed about for a while, but I have never 
set eyes on him again to this day. The current must have 
carried him to sea, poor fellow ! He had died trying to 
save a life. That^s all true, Mr. Walgrave, and just as it 
happened, and I canT tell you how sorry we were when 
we found out the night before last that you were the 
husband of the lady who died here.^^ 

^^Who told you, how did you find it out?’^ 

^^An old chum of mine came to see us. He used to be 
vestry clerk in London, and in speaking of my boat — the 
one you gave me, sir, — ^your name was mentioned, and he 
told us that he had seen you get married, that your wife 
was fair and her name was Isabelle de Courtney. It gave 
us a turn. hTancy fainted away^ 0, if we had only kept 
the babyT^ 

^^DonT say any more about it just now. Gray; I canT 
stand it. I ^m crushed ; I must think what is to be done 
and he left the cottage. His dog ran joyfully to meet him 
as he was in the habit of doing, but as he looked into 
his master^s face he seemed to know that something was 
wrong, and he licked his hand and walked quietly by his 
side. 

Poor Walgrave ! He must have been born for sorrow, 
for it met him at every turn ; there seemed to be no joy, no 
peace, for him, in this world. Ho pen can picture his 
anguish as he walked back to his home, where he shut him- 
self up in his study, with orders that he was not to be 


504 


HISS HOGG 


disturbed. He looked so ill as he came in that the house- 
keeper asked him if she should go for the doctor. 

^‘^ISTo, I want rest; that 's all;'' had been his answer. 

Walgrave was a man with a great deal of heart and fine 
feeling; and the sorrow which he had believed buried for 
years^ and which time had softened, facing him again when 
he least expected it, had been a terrible shock to his 
sensitive feelings. He had a daughter somewhere in the 
world, but Avhere was he to look for her? Nancy had left 
her where any passer-by might take her if so disposed. 
Would he ever find out who had her, and would they be the 
people that he would have chosen to bring up his child, 
and what kind of a girl would she be? Hope and fear, 
together with the shock of surprise, nearly unsettled his 
reason. Then the death of his dear wife in Gray's cabin. 
0, if he could only have been there at the time, she might 
have lived, and the thought of what might have been 
overwhelmed him, and he sobbed aloud, with his head on 
his desk; then he sat back in his chair; he had passed 
through so much that day that his feelings became blunted; 
he felt dazed; the pain at his heart left him; he hardly 
knew where he was; he had lost the power of thought, 
and he sat with his head thrown back, his eyes open, looking 
straight before him, feeling no pain. It was well for him 
that this numbness had possessed him, for it gave a much 
needed rest to both body and mind. How long he remained 
in this condition he never knew. His housekeeper, be- 
coming alarmed at his silence and long stay, knocked, 
and opening the door, said, ^^Shall I bring lights, sir ?" 

^^No, Mrs. Grant, I don't feel well, and I 'm going to 
bed." 

^^But you will have supper, sir, before you retire?" 

^^No ; bring me a glass of wine and a biscuit ;" and hav- 
ing eaten the biscuit and drunk the wine, he went to bed 
like one in a dream, and, strange to say, slept till morning, 
and awoke with all his faculties in full play and a great 
pain at his heart, but he was calm and ready for work 
once more; and he murmured, have been very near 
losing my reason; but that numbness and the blessed 
sleep saved me. 0, my own dear Isabelle !" And as he pro- 
nounced that dear name the thought of another Isabelle 
rushed into his brain. ^^0, my God, if it could only be so, 


THE AMERICAN HElRi0SS 


SOS 


how thankful I would be V’ And the more he thought the 
more positive he became. ^^Mrs. Hogg told me that her 
name was Isabelle de Courtney, and the resemblance which 
I noticed as soon as ray eyes fell on her ! She is the image 
of my dead wife. 0, if I had only known all this before ! 
Mrs. Hogg promised to tell me all about her, so that there 
must be a secret. I wonder if Miss Hogg knows it.^^ 

He made up his mind to go to London in a few days. 
He must see his wife^s grave first, and rest for a day or 
two, for he felt shattered; he had gone through so much 
lately he could not bear much more. He knew how trying 
it would be to him to see his dear wife^s grave. He must 
have a monument erected to her memory. 

After eating a light breakfast he left the house alone, 
leaving his dog behind, to the great surprise of Mrs. Grant, 
who asked him if he would be home for dinner. 

^^Yes, I am sure to be back by that time,^^ and he walked 
toward the Grays^ cottage. 

Mrs. Grant looked after her master and wondered 
what could have happened at the Grays to make Mr. 
Walgrave so ill, for he seemed hardly able to walk; and 
yet he was going there again. Yes, Walgrave called at the 
cabin and asked J ames Gray to go with him to the church- 
yard. We shall not follow him there, for it would be too 
harrowing for my readers, who have already passed through 
so many sad scenes with our friend Walgrave. Suffice it to 
say that when he returned home he was hardly able to 
stand and after drinking a cup of strong coffee he retired 
to his room and did not leave for London until a week 
later, and having left his portmanteau at a hotel he went 
to call on Miss Hogg, as we have recorded, looking pale 
and excited, as Miss Hogg had remarked. He told her 
all that had occurred since they had parted. Miss Hogg’s 
astonishment was great and she expressed her heartfelt 
sympathy for him, and informed him that Isabelle was 
without a doubt his daughter, as she herself had the piece 
of what she had supposed was a nightdress, with the name 
written quite plain in India ink — ^^sabelle de Courtney” ; 
she also had the skirt and the black shawl. She told him 
where she had got the child, and it agreed with what Haney 
had told him, and the church where she had left the 
child must be St. Pancras Church; and what she had 


MISS iiooa 


606 

supposed to be a garden — and in reality was one — was In 
Eussell Square, belonging to the occupants of the houses 
in the square; and the resemblance of Isabelle to his late 
wife, all combined to prove that she was his daughter. 
Miss Hogg was overjoyed at the thought that it was in 
her power to throw a little sunshine in W algrave^s pathway, 
and she exclaimed, ^^0, Mr. Walgrave, I feel so thankful 
that I can give you such a good and lovely daughter! 
she will make you happy; but, Mr. Walgrave, you must 
not take her entirely away from us. You have no one 
here in England for whom you care very much; you have 
been leading a lonely life; it would be dull for Isabelle to 
have no young people around her. I have a proposition to 
make you, and if you have any regard for me and don’t 
wish to make me very miserable, you will not refuse ; your 
acceptance will bring joy into my heart and peace into my 
future life. How, my plan is this — and you know that I 
am good at making plans,” she said, smilingly: ^‘^I want 
to see you happy, Mr. Walgrave, and in time you are going 
to be so. How, I want you to settle all your business here 
in England and come back with me to America to stay. 
You know the farm where you came to see me : well, that 
is going to be yours ; you will live there with your daughter. 
How nice it sounds ! Then, when you require a change 
you will come to see us in Brooklyn with dear Isabelle.” 

^^But, Miss Hogg, that farm has cost you a great deal 
of money,” said Walgrave, much affected by Miss Plogg’s 
generosity, and, understanding her motive for offering it, 
he feared to refuse and give her pain; but she settled 
him in a moment by saying, ^Tt cost four thousand pounds, 
and you know that Lady Montgomery lias refused to take 
back the four thousand pounds I received from her. How 
I never used that money, but I had it invested in Isabelle’s 
name, meaning to give it to her as a dower. I will make 
an exchange and have the farm transferred to you, and 
I will keep the four thousand ])ounds, so that you will 
owe me nothing; it all comes from I^ady Montgomery, 
and you have done a great deal for her, more than she 
can ever repay you ; so don’t say another word ; I won’t 
listen to any objections now it is all settled.” 

^^0, Miss Hogg, how cleverly you put it; but I will 
remind you of what Lady Montgomery told you : you have 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


607 


spent much more than that amount for Lady Florence’s 
education, so that it is to you that I would owe this 
generous gift and not to Lady Montgomery/^ 

^^Now, Mr. Walgrave, accept it to please me, to add to 
my happiness and she rose and held out her hands to 
him. 

He rose also, and taking her hands in his, said, ‘‘1 
will. Miss Hogg; you are a noble woman; I will not pain 
you by a refusal ; I thank God that my child fell into your 
hands, and I will not take her away from you and your 
kind mother, who loves her so. I will go to America, as 
you propose and, kissing her hands, he released them 
and led her back to her chair. 

have many things to settle before leaving here,^^ said 
he, ^^and it is more than likely that you will be ready to re- 
turn to America before I am, but I will follow as soon as I 
have set everything to rights here.^^ 

^AYe shall see, Mr. Walgrave; I would certainly prefer 
to have you come back with me, even if I have to delay 
my departure for a week.^^ 

are very kind. Miss Hogg, and I will hasten my 
departure as much as possible. I will not detain you any 
longer now;^^ and he rose to go. 

^^Yes, do so,^^ replied Miss Hogg; ^^and if I can help 
you in any way don^t hesitate to ask me. I had better give 
3 ^ou a check for that lawyer. How much do you think he 
will want? What a fool I was to put myself in his 
power r 

^^That was the only mistake you made. Miss Hogg,^^ 
said Walgrave with the shadow of a smile; ^^but I will see 
what can be done with him. I don^t propose to bribe 
him ; he would come back too often upon you and keep you 
in perpetual fear of extortions. Should I not be able to 
manage him without money I will let you know, so good- 
by for the present.^^ 

When Walgrave left Miss Hogg he was feeling much 
relieved and happier than before his call; his mind was 
at rest regarding his daughter Isabelle. How strange it 
seemed to him to have a daughter, and how his heart went 
out to her ! How lovely she was, and what would she say 
when she knew that he was her father? Would she love 
him ? He had seen so little of her at the farm ; his anxiety 


508 


MISS HOGG 


had been all for Miss Hogg and for Lady Florence, who 
had learned to care for him enough to wish to keep him 
in her aunt’s home and had pinned a bouquet in his 
buttonhole, so surely his own daughter would learn to love 
him in time. 

All these things came to him as he went on his way 
to Lady Montgomery’s lawyers to arrange matters with 
them concerning the reward. Lady Montgomery having 
left everything in Mr. Walgrave’s hands. He had no 
trouble in getting the one thousand pounds promised; he 
received it in two checks, one for eight hundred and the 
other for two hundred pounds. Then he ordered his 
cabman to drive to Scotland Yard, and there he asked to 
see the chief of police. He was shown into his private 
office, but it was no longer the same chief as in Walgrave’s 
time, at which he felt relieved, for no embarrassing 
questions would be put to him, and he was not in a frame 
of mind to discuss his private affairs, even with his old 
chief. He stated his business in a few words; he had 
called in Lady Montgomery’s name to say that Lady 
Florence had returned to her aunt, and that she had been 
with some relatives of her late father during the past 
five years, and at their death she had been sent back; 
those relatives had believed that they had the best right 
to her. 

^^And what is the name of those relatives ?” asked the 
captain, suspiciously, as he looked hard at Walgrave. 

^^The Countess de Pascalina,” he replied. 

^^0, ah, I saw the announcement of her death in the 
papers; it occurred in Italy, did it not?” 

^Ht did, captain; and Lady Montgomery wishes me 
to say that whatever expenses 3 ^ou have incurred in this 
business will be settled by her lawyers ; you know them.” 

^^Certainly; we have often drawn upon them during 
the past five and a half years.” 

also wish to know where I can find Mathew, the 
detective who has been employed on this case.” 

^^But there is no reward ; at least we were told so.” 

^^You have been correctly informed, captain. As soon 
as the news came that Lady Florence had been with the 
Countess de Pascalina the search was ordered to be stopped 
and consequently the reward was \yithdrawnj stilly Lady 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


509 


Montgomery feels that Mr. Mathew deserves an acknowl- 
edgment for his services, and she has commissioned me 
to "see him and arrange matters with him, which I hope 
will prove to his satisfaction; if yon will kindly give 
me his address, or tell me where I am most likely to find 
him, you will oblige me. He told me when I saw him 
last that he was going on a murder case. You could not 
have a better man than Mathew. I believe he is the best 
you ever had.’^ 

^‘^He is certainly the best we have now,^^ replied the 
cnief of police, ^‘^but I was told that some years ago we had 
his master, though I have never seen him myself; it 
was before my time. His name was Walgrave. By the 
way, was he a relative of yours? for now I remember the 
clerk announced you as Mr. Walgrave.^^ 

am the Walgrave you alluded to,^^ replied our friend, 
^^but my capacities have been great exaggerated. Mathew 
is, ^ and always was, a match for me.'^^ 

'^^You are modest, Mr. Walgrave, but there are deeds 
of yours recorded here,^^ placing his hand on a large book 
on the table, ^^that tell a different tale ; but I shall say no 
more ; I understand you ; all I can say is that I ^m sorry 
3^ouYe not one of us now;^^ and the captain held out 
his hand to Walgrave, who thanked him for his good 
opinion of him. ^^ISTow,^^ said the chief, ^^since you wish 
to see Mathew I think you had better stay here; I expect 
him in less than an hour; then you will be sure of him.^^ 

Going to a cupboard, he brought out a bottle of wine 
and glasses, and a silver basket of biscuits; and when 
Mathew came in at the appointed time it gave him a 
surprise to see Walgrave and his chief talking like old 
friends over their wine. ^^Ah, Mathew,^^ said the captain, 
^^you don’t know how pleased I am to have made the 
acquaintance of the famous Walgrave of whom I had heard 
and read so much; and he is a friend of yours, he tells 
me.” 

^^Yes, captain, and a rival; he always checkmated me; 
still, I am proud to be claimed by him as a friend.” 

^^Well, hurry with your report and you can spend the 
evening with him.” 

Mathew did so, and Walgrave, making now and then 
a suggestion which astonished the phief^^ proyed to be ^ 


510 


MISS HOGG 


great help in the case, and as the chief shook hands with 
him he said, must say once more that I sincerely regret 
that you are not one of us, Mr. Walgrave.^'' 

^^And I say,^^ replied Walgrave, smiling, ^^that the 
flower of your flock is here;^^ and he placed his hand on 
Mathew’s shoulder, and passing his arm through his, 
they both left the office. ^ 

‘^^ISTow,^’ said Walgrave, ^^you are coming to my hotel; 
I have much to say to you, first as a friend, and next 
as a detective.’^ 

am at your service in both capacities as far as it 
lies in my power to be,’’ replied Mathew. ^^How do you 
like our new chief? You never saw him before, did you?” 

^^No, Mathew; and he appears to me to be a good 
natured and good tempered fellow.” 

^^He ’s all that and cute besides. Our old chief retired 
on a pension two years ago. Had you stayed in the place 
you would have had his post, Mr. Walgrave.” 

^AVell, Mathew, it ’s better as it is ; I have gone through 
so much in my life that I am unfit for hard work. I have 
had another terrible shock lately.” 

thought you looked ill and thinner than when I saw 
you last.” 

^^Yes, Mathew, and that beautiful, fair little girl that 
mystified us so often, has proved to be — what do you 
think ?” 

^^0, a princess, perhaps; she was lovely enough to 
be one.” 

^‘^N’o, Mathew, but my daughter.” 

^^Yow look here, Mr. Walgrave, don’t allow that she- 
devil, Miss Hogg — I beg your pardon for speaking so 
of her, but I can’t help it — ^you nave allowed yourself 
to be caught in her meshes, and you don’t know what trick 
she is going to play on you; she is clever enough to make 
a man lose his own identity. How did she manage to make 
you believe such an impossible thing? You told me that 
your wife was drowned many years ago and had left no 
children or child. I ’m glad that I ’ve met you for I ’m 
going to disabuse your mind. I know how you feel. She 
used to puzzle me so that my head beat like a drum, and 
if I had seen as much of her as you have she would 
have driven me mad. I understand why you want rne as a 


trUE AMERICA:^ ilElRESS 


511 


detective ; it is to fathom this mystery, and 1 ^ll do it, my 
friend. Why did you interfere with me when I had her 
in the hollow of my hand ? I knew you ^d be sorry for 
it before long. She ^11 be the death of you yet if I don’t 
run her down, and whatever you say I ’m going to do it 
and save you from her.” 

^^Come, my friend,” said Walgrave, think it is you 
who are getting excited ; you, generally so cool ; and I know 
that I ’m going to shock you when I tell you that Miss 
Hogg is a noble woman and that I am going back to 
America with her.” 

Mathew threw himself back in his chair dumfounded. 
Had Walgrave lost his reason? 

^^But,” continued Walgrave, ^det us speak of yourself 
first; and to show you that I am not mad, as I can see 
you think me, I will own to you, my friend, that if I had 
not helped Miss Hogg to escape, you would have had her; 
she was in the ship that you were watching, and so was I ; 
and yet you did n’t see me come ashore. I kept you talking 
at your hotel to give her time to escape. She had Lady 
Florence with her; like a good bloodhound, you guessed 
that everything was not right with me. Your eyes seemed 
to read right through me. I kept my temper, and you 
told me that it was a bad sign ; that it was fear that made 
me do k, and your chief said that I was a better detective 
than you. Ho, Mathew, you are a better detective than 
I, and I ’m not ashamed to own it ; and yet I feel that 
I am a good detective, though second to you. How, 
Mathew, I was the cause of your losing half of that 
reward, for it was I who advised Lord Montgomery to 
withdraw it, not so much on your account as for that lawyer 
of whom we will speak presently. I also knew that at 
Scotland Yard they would call you back and that you 
would have to obey; I feared you, my friend, and I own it; 
but it has never been my intention that you should lose 
by the trick I played you, and here is the proof of what 
I say.” 

He drew from his pocket the check for eight hundred 
pounds and placed it on the table before Mathew, who was 
greatly astonished, and he said, ^^You have more right to 
it than T have, for you were the winner; everything you 


512 


MISS ilOGd 


did was fair; 1 would have done the same to outwit you 
had it been in my power/^ 

^^No^ Mathew, all this is yours; what I did was for 
love, not money; but I repeat, if you had not come to 
me in Southampton and told me that you were going 
to hunt down the woman I loved you would have been the 
winner and things would not have turned out half as well 
for all parties as they are likely to do. Now do you 
still think that I am losing my reason 

^^Not on these points, Mr. Walgrave, and you are not 
only the most clever man I ever met, but the most honor- 
able and generous. I feel mean in accepting this large 
sum of money, and would prefer to share it with you.^^ 

believe you, Mathew; but when I have explained 
matters to you and proved beyond a doubt that Isabelle is 
my daughter, and what my future prospects are, you will 
feel willing to keep the eight hundred pounds, which really 
belong to you. Now listen.^^ 

And Walgrave related all that had occurred from 
the time he had parted from Mathew at his own garden 
gate in Southampton. When he came to the part where 
the Grays had made him acquainted with the sad death 
of his wife, he became almost overpowered with his own 
grief. Mathew felt deeply for him, and his own eyes were 
full of tears. But when everything was made clear concern- 
ing the child, he rejoiced, for he saw that this great shock 
had done Walgrave more good than harm. The vivid 
picture of his wife dying in the cabin of the Grays renewed 
his sorrow for his great loss, his early love had returned 
to her and had destroyed his mad love for Miss Hogg; 
now he would love her as a dear friend only; he would 
no longer be heartbroken. Then his daughter would be a 
great source of happiness to him, and his gratitude to 
Mrs. and Miss Hogg was quite natural, for without them 
she could not be what she was; and Miss Hogg was right 
— it would be cruel to part her from them, and Walgrave 
was doing right in going to America. After what he had 
heard of Miss Hogg^s generosity and her conduct towards 
Walgrave since their meeting in the farmhouse, and the 
trust and confidence she had felt in him since that period, 
he agreed with Walgrave that she was, after all, a noble- 
jninded woman, and he hoped that she would be happy 


5l3 


1111^ AMEniCAiT itEIRESS 

when married to her cousin Tom; and he said he was 
really glad that he had done with her, for she was far 
too clever for him, and that if every case he undertook 
was as long he would find himself an old man with only a 
record of half a dozen cases to show. ^^\nd I now see 
that it is not for her that you require me as a detective. 
For whom is it, my friend? I am at your service in my 
spare moments, and I admit that your brains are perfectly 
sound and clearer than my own, but you can hardly blame 
me for my doubts, for the story you have just related is 
a remarkable one, though perfectly clear to me now.^^ 

am glad to hear you say so, jMathew, but T have 
yet a difficult task to accomplish. The lawyer is not 
disposed of yet, and if I mistake not will give us trouble. 
It is in dealing with him that I want your aid. I don’t 
propose to bribe him; if we tried that we should never 
hear the end of his extortions. What I want to do is to 
shake him off; drop him by main force; and in order to 
do that we must know something of his past life. He 
does n’t look like a man who would stop at trifles. If we 
can manage to find out some of his faux pas then we have 
him in our power. I don’t intend to be mean nor hard 
with him. I have here two hundred pounds for him; 
but if I were to say to him, ^Mr. Bridgewell, I give you 
these two hundred pounds to keep your mouth shut,’ 
he would take the money and laugh in my face; and if 
I should tell him the tale I told your chief he would not 
believe a word of it, but would investigate matters on his 
own account ; then, having arrived at the truth, would 
threaten us with a scandal in the papers if we did not come 
down with whatever he asked ; and if we did that he would 
come again and keep the parties concerned in this matter 
in perpetual fear of his visits, so that we had better strike 
while the iron ’s hot.” 

^^You’re right, Mr. Walgrave; a man like him is to be 
feared, and can’t be trusted. Now, with my chief it is 
different ; even if he had not exactly believed what he was 
told he would allow the case to drop. He simply obeys 
orders as we do ourselves; he could not undertake, for 
his own private benefit, to follow up a case that had been 
stopped; he would lose his place if he did. A blackmailer 
cannot be chief of police. But I think that you have read 


514 


Miss uo<^ 


Bridgewell aright, and have taken the proper course, for, 
after all, this matter does not concern him/^ 

^^Did you ever report to him?'^ asked Walgrave. 

^^No, I never did; I wanted to be sure of the whole 
business before I said a word to anyone, for I had failed 
so often before/^ 

^^That was very prudent on your part, Mathew, and will 
prove fortunate for us; you must help me to hunt up 
his pedigree, and I have no doubt but we shall find a 
skeleton in his closet, and you and I must get it out and 
face him with it,^^ said Walgrave, ^^and then he will be glad 
to come to our terms/^ 

am with you heart and soul,^^ said Mathew, his 
bright black eyes sparkling with admiration at Walgrave’s 
clever plan. He was certainly learning from Walgrave, 
and had been learning for many years, for they had often 
worked together on the same cases, and Mathew had always 
tried not to follow, but to get ahead of Walgrave, and, 
as Walgrave really was the best detective in Scotland Yard, 
Mathew had had to keep his brains working, and the more 
he drew out of them the clearer his ideas came to him 
— like water from good springs; and, being a clever man, 
with good sense and judgment, he had become in eight 
years, when we made his acquaintance, almost equal 
to Walgrave, and sometimes more quick-witted. He gen- 
erally kept cool where Walgrave would lose his temper. 
But time and sorrow had changed Walgrave; he now 
kept cool and his brain worked wonderfully, while Mathew 
became more impatient at the obstacles in his way. He 
had been dreadfully upset when the reward for Lady 
Florence had been withdrawn and he had been recalled by 
his chief when he felt he was so near success. It had 
certainly been very trying and disheartening, and these 
disappointments are apt to spoil the best of tempers. But 
with all these drawbacks he loved his calling, for he was 
a born detective, and he felt his blood stirring within him 
^t the thought of working once more with Walgrave against 
the lawyer, and he promised himself to try his best to win. 
He had always felt this craving to be at the head when 
employed on the same case, just as two good race horses 
do their best to win the race, feeling that they are equal, 
and each knowing the value of the other. So with Wal- 


TIIK A]\lErnCAN HEIRESS 515 

grave and Mathew: each knew how clever he would have 
to be to win the case in hand. 

^‘Now, my friend/^ said Walgrave, ^^you know every- 
thing in this case as well as I do, and I want you to do 
your best to win; this is not work for money; this is 
probably our last race together; I shall be pleased if you 
succeed and come out the winner ; but I must warn 
you that I am going in for it myself heart and soul, and 
that I am going to do my utmost to come out best, 
so that I am not going to ask you how you are going to 
begin; it would not be fair; you keep your own plans 
to yourself till the business is done. If I should discover 
BridgewelFs skeleton first I will let you know; and you 
do the same if you succeed first.^^ 

^^J^othing could please me better, Mr. Walgrave, and 
I am glad that you have proposed what was nearest my 
heart. Use all your ability against mine and don^t spare 
me ; don’t show me any favor, thinking to please me, for I 
would only feel pained and humiliated.” 

^^You are the right sort, Mathew. I feel as you do, and 
I will not insult you by showing you the least favor if 
it is in my power to do so, which is doubtful, my friend, 
and you feel it as I do ; I see it in your bright black eyes ; 
you long to be at it already, and so do I. We start even, 
for neither of us knows anything of the man’s past life. 
Now, my friend, that we have agreed upon our future 
course of action we will drop the subject and go down 
to dinner, or supper — for it is late.” 

They parted that night with their minds full of the 
new campaign against the lawyer, not knowing how to 
attack him; not even knowing if there was anything in 
his past life to conceal; they could not begin without a 
clew, and where to look for a clew was the question. Who 
would win? It did not follow that the winner would 
be the best man; chance might favor one more than the 
other. Mathew ought to have the advantage over Wal- 
grave, for he had been in active service all the time, while 
Walgrave had not, and he now knew few people in London, 
and should he question those that he did know they might 
ask embarrassing questions about his resuming the de- 
tective business ; while, on the other hand, Mathew, while 
going about his other business, could make inquiries 


516 


MISS HOGG 


without exciting suspicion; it was his trade, and he Knew 
so many people who could help him in his search, — lawyers, 
who are usually Jealous of each other, and would rejoice 
at the downfall of their more successful rivals; so that 
Walgrave was certainly in the background and at a great 
disadvantage at starting, and he knew it; so he made up 
his mind to begin at the top of the ladder instead of at 
the bottom, and not to beat about the bush by questioning 
Tom, Dick, and Harry. His first step was to find out 
where the lawyer lived and what sort of woman he had 
married, and having done so, he called at his house when 
he knew him to be at his office. He rang the bell and asked 
the servant who opened the door if Mr. Bridgewell was at 
home. 

^^ISTo, he is at his office.^^ 

canT go back to his office,^^ said Walgrave, ^^and I 
must see him or his wife, if she is at home.^^ 

^^Yes, Mrs. Bridgewell is at home. I will ask her if 
she will see you; walk in, sir.^^ 

He had not given his name, as he feared that should 
Bridgewell be told on his return he would be suspicious. 
After waiting about ten minutes the door opened, and a 
lady of about thirty years of age, with brown hair and 
eyes, rather good looking, entered the room and said, 
ffii Mrs. Bridgewell. What can I do for you ? My 
husband is at his office and will not be home until this 
evening; but if you wish to leave any word or your address 
he will call upon you. The servant did not give me your 
name, sir.^^ 

^^Ho, madam, for reasons that I will explain I did not 
give it; my business is rather complicated. The facts are 
these : a small legacy has been left to a certain Bridgewell, 
but by some mistake in the will we have been so far unable 
to locate the real Bridgewell, and as I have no desire to 
raise hopes in your husband’s mind should he not prove 
to be the one that we are looking for” — 

legacy?” repeated Mrs. Bridgewell, all smiles; 
it much ? Are you at liberty to disclose the amount ?” 

^^No, madam, not until I am positive that your husband 
is the real heir.” 

^Well, sir, what must I do to prove that he is the real 


THE AMEIHCAN HEIRESS 517 

heir ? what do you wish to know ? Question me and I will 
answer as far as lies in my power/^ 

^‘^How long have you been married to Mr. Bridgewell 
^‘^Only seven years.^^ 

^^0, I see ; he has married late in life.^^ 

sir, I am his second wife; he has a son by his 
first wife, who left him when he married the second time. 
Do you think that my husband is the Bridgewell that 
you are looking for?^^ 

think so, madam. What kind of a lady was the first 
Mrs. Bridgewell 

never knew her, sir ; but I have been told that she was 
of a very jealous nature, and in consequence made her 
husband very unhappy. She had been dead some years 
before I became acquainted vdth Mr. Bridgewell.^^ 

^^Did she live in this house 

^^0 dear, no ; I could n^t bear to live in it if she had. 
She died abroad, but I never asked him where, as the 
subject must be painful to him."^^ 

^^Yes, yes, of course; but why did his son leave home? 
Why should he have objected to his father^s marrying 
again? Did he dislike you?^^ 

^^No; before I became engaged to his father we had 
often met in company and he had showed no dislike to 
me.^^ 

^^How old was he at the time his father married you ?^^ 
about twenty years of age; he left home on our 
wedding day, after having quarreled with his father.^^ 

^^Did you hear what passed between them?^^ 
only a few words that puzzled me.^^ 

^W^hat were the words ?^^ asked Walgrave, at the risk 
of being refused an answer. 

^^Well, there can be no harm in telling you, for they 
really had no meaning as my husband told me afterwards ; 
he only said it in anger. I heard him say to his father, 
^If I wished to I could undo your marriage with three 
words; much love you must have had for my mother; 
it was you who drove her^ — I did not catch the next word, 
for my husband said, in angry tones, ^You dare say the 
word and I fil knock you down. Have n’t I suffered enough 
with your mother? Must she stand forever between me 
and happiness? Did I ever give her cause for her ipad 


518 


MISS HOGG 


jealous}^, and are yon, too, going to wreck my life? Go 
with her, and never let me see your face again and the 
yonng man came ont of the room, banging the door after 
him, left the house, and has never been here since. I 
really don't know if my husband would be pleased if he 
knew that I had told you all this.^^ 

^^Don’t say a word to him about it until we know if 
the inheritance belongs to him,^^ replied Walgrave. 
will never repeat what you have told me. In what church 
were you married 
‘^Gn St. George^s.^^ 

^*And do you k^now where your husband’s first marriage 
had taken place ?” 

^^Yes, at St. Luke’s; I heard him say so to a friend 
of his who once happened to speak of his first wife; he 
had known her when she was Miss Amelia Smith.” 

^^You never knew her relatives, did you?” 

knew her brother; he has a tailor shop in White- 
chapel Eoad; and I was told tiiat it was to him that John 
went when he left here. J ohn is my husband’s son, sir.” 

^^Yes, I understand, and I really think that the money 
will come to your husband. I must make a few more 
inquiries, then I will settle the matter ; and take my advice 
and don’t tell him that anyone has been inquiring about 
him; it will give him a pleasant surprise 'when I bring 
him the money; and if I should have made a mistake he 
will not feel the disappointment.” 

will take your advice, and only mention that a 
gentleman has been here for him, but did not leave his 
name, so that most likely he intended calling at his office.” 

^^Yes, that will do. Good morning, Mrs. Bridgewell. 
Thank you for the information that you have given me. I 
will call again in a few days.” And Walgrave left the 
house well pleased with his visit. True, what he had heard 
did not seem to amount to much, except the few words the 
son had said to his father; they sounded like a threat — 
^^You drove her — ^to what, was he going to say? To her 
death? Even if Bridgewell had driven his wife to death 
by his unkindness that would not make his second marriage 
illegal — even had she committed suicide; and what could 
be the three words that would have the power to undo the 
marriage ? 


AMERiCAlT HDIRESS 


519 


All that day Walgrave puzzled his brain to find out 
the three words; he tried a good many, but they did not 
bring the desired result, and that night he retired to bed 
still guessing. At last he closed his eyes and was just 
falling asleep when three words came to him like a flash, 
that would answer his purpose were it. possible for them 
to be the right ones ; but, no, it could not be ; it was a mad 
freak of his overworked brain; yet, if it were possible, he 
would hold Bridgewell in the hollow of his hand, so to 
speak ; he would be entirely in his power provided he could 
prove these three words to be the right ones. BridgewelFs 
son could clear up the mystery, but it was douMful if 
he would say anything to implicate his father ; he had n’t 
done so for seven years and was not likely to do so now 
willingly ; it would be a difficult matter to get at the truth ; 
and the more Walgrave reflected the more he believed that 
he had found the right words ; they seemed to sound in his 
brain like chiming bells. 

The next morning when he awoke the first thought that 
came to him was those words, but somehow he did not 
feel so positive as he did the night before; and the more 
he thought the more doubtful he became, and the more 
impossible it appeared to him. If Mr. Bridgewell had not 
been a lawyer, the thing would have been not only possible 
but quite probable; but would he, one of the best lawyers 
in London, as Walgrave had been told that he was, put 
himself in the power of the law? Walgrave ate his 
breakfast mechanically, his mind constantly busy with the 
subject; only now and then would the sweet face of his 
daughter Isabelle come between him and the lawyer’s sup- 
posed misdeeds like a refreshing draught to the thirsty 
traveler, and his heart would beat with joy at the thought 
that he had some one who really and truly belonged to 
him alone. He was beginning to see the silver lining to the 
dark cloud which had for a time crushed all his hopes. 
Happiness had not come to him as he had expected it, 
but it was as sweet, and he felt that he had yet some happy 
days before him ; something to live for. He began making 
plans about his daughter, and he must erect a monument 
to the memory of his dear wife who had left him such a 
precious gift. Her spirit seemed to be near him, cheering 
him, and his heart felt lighter as he seemed to hear her 


520 


MISS HOGG 


say, ^‘Be happy, my husband; I live in our daughter; 
rejoice that I was not drowned before your eyes, as you 
believed, and that you have still the grave where my earthly 
frame rests ; but my spirit is near you, and will follow you 
wherever you go, and rejoice to see you happy once more/^ 

Sometimes Walgrave remained in a reverie sorrowful 
and yet sweet ; he felt all the love of his youth return for 
his pure and beloved wife as if he had never thought of 
another. His love for Miss Hogg he now looked upon as 
madness ; he loved her as a friend, yes, a very dear friend, 
but the love of possession was no longer in his heart; he 
could bear to see her happy with another without a regret 
as if she had been his sister 

He awoke from his reverie, saying, ^^This will never 
do. I want a little reality; I wish to see my daughter 
as soon as possible, and I still have work to do. I must 
not leave my task unfinished ; I must remove every obstacle 
that would be likely to bring a shadow over those I love; 
our horizon must be clear and bright; so, to work, my 
friend Walgrave.'’^ He left his hotel to go to Whitechapel 
Eoad in search of Smith, tailor, whom he soon found; 
his shop was not a common one, as some reader would 
think, nor is Whitechapel Koad as bad as report makes 
it. The shops are large and well stocked, and restaurants 
are numerous. Furniture there is rather of the cheap 
order, but dress goods and millinery are as good as, if not 
better than, in the grand shops in Piccadilly, and at half 
the price. I have seen these things, though I have not 
purchased anything there, not needing anything, but having 
gone there out of curiosity, expecting to see a dreadful 
place. I was agreeably surprised at the sight that met 
my eyes, and I stopped at many shops and admired the 
goods and the windows, in the company of my husband, 
who was well acquainted with London. The only dread- 
ful place I saw — and I doubt if it can be equaled — is 
Petticoat Lane; it is somewhere about Whitechapel Eoad, 
narrow, with dirty looking shops, old clothes, old furniture, 
and every imaginable rubbish. These shops are kept by 
low Jews with unkempt beards and dirty clothes, the 
women looking worse than the men. Some of the women 
were really handsome except for their bold black eyes and 
low repulsive manners. They do not hesitate to take a 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


521 


lady by the arm and try to pull her into these dirty shops 
to make her bu}^ their second or third hand goods. One 
fat, dirty Jewess tried to grasp me by the arm as we passed 
her shop. I was not afraid, but I felt very much disgusted, 
and must liave showed it in my face, for she grinned and 
said, ^^0, perhaps the lady does n’t think my goods good 
enougli for her.^’ I shook her off and said to my husband, 
^^Let us hurry out of this”; but it was easier said than 
done; some of the other Jews and Jewesses crowded round 
us; my husband lifted his cane with a very determined 
look, for, being a captain, he was accustomed to being 
obeyed, and said, ^^Out of the way or I ’ll strike right and 
left”; and they dispersed. I believe that their intention 
had been to frighten us, me, in particular, for I was only 
eighteen years old, but they certainly failed, for fear and I 
have yet ti become acquainted. They smiled and bowed 
to us as we passed, but I must say that I was glad to get 
in the main street again, and I never made them another 
visit. 


522 


MISS HOGG 


CHAPTER LXIII. 

Walgrave was not compelled to go to Petticoat Lane, 
but to the fine, broad and well-lighted Whitechapel Road; 
and having seen the name of ^^John Smith, Tailor,’^ he 
entered, and began to look at the goods in the shop. He 
asked the man who attended on him if he was the master. 

answered the man; ^‘Mr. Smith is in the office; 
do you wish to see him, sir?^^ 
do; call him here.^’ 

The man did so; Mr. Smith soon saw that he had a 
gentleman to deal with and was all smiles; he asked 
Walgrave what he could do for him. 

wish to see some of jout best cloth for traveling 
suits; I have been recommended here by a friend of Mr. 
Bridgewell.^^ The tailor gave a start, but only said, 
am very much obliged to that friend of Mr. Bridgewell ; it 
is more than he himself would do. But look at that cloth, 
sir; what do you think of it? I will make you a suit 
that will fit you like a glove for eight pounds, well lined, 
and made on the premises under my own eyes. Shall I take 
your measure, sir?’^ 

^^Yes, I think you may; I like the cloth; pepper and 
salt color will not soil so easily as black on board ship.’^ 

^^Certainly not, sir; and the color will suit you ad- 
mirably;^^ and the tailor took Walgrave’s measure. 

But to return to Mathew : he had visited several lawyers 
of his acquaintance to make inquiries about Bridgewo]], 
saying that a friend of his was in trouble and wanted to 
see Bridgewell ; but as this friend of his would be putting 
himself entirely in Bridge welFs power he had thought 
it best to make some inquiries concerning the lawyer, for 
should he not be entirely trustworthy it would make it 
bad for his friend in the future; and he wished to Imow 
if he had always been the respectable lav/yer he appeared to 
1)6 at the present time. 

not put the C6^s^ m Quv hauds?’’ said these 


THE AMEllICAKi HEIRESS 

lawyers; ^^you can trust us to do all we can for your 
friend^ and you know us/^ 

^^Yes/^ thought Mathew, know you too well to trust 
you with my business but he only said, ^^It is impossible 
for me to do so, however willing I would be, for he 
positively told me to put the ease in Lawyer Bridgewell’s 
hands. I am only making inquiries on my own account, 
through friendship for him, not through any misgivings 
on his part, for he seems to have a high opinion of Lawyer 
Bridgewell. Do you know anything to the contrary?’^ 
They smiled, shrugged their shoulders, and hinted a great 
deal, but could not in reality say anything decisive and 
to the point when pressed by Mathew to do so; so that 
it was pretty clear that the lawyer had a good name. 

Mathew left them disappointed, and not knowing where 
to apply next. At last he made up his mind to beard the 
lion in his den, and try to find out what the lawyer intended 
to do concerning the case he had employed him on. He 
had no intention of accepting any payment from him, 
and he doubted very much if Bridgewell v/ould be willing 
to pay him anything for his trouble now that the reward 
had been withdrawn. Yes, he would go and pay him a 
visit and try to pick up a clew there. As he entered the 
outer office where the clerk was usually seated on a high 
stool, he found it vacant, and the door of the private 
office ajar; thinking that the clerk would soon return, he 
didnT knock, but sat down on a chair near the door 
g£ the private office; he could hear voices, and a word 
caught his ear which made him start, and brought all his 
detective faculties into play. He moved his chair a little 
nearer the door, but not so near as to risk being seen 
through the glass door; and he glued his ear as near the 
opening of the door as he dared to do. Bridgewell seemed 
to be speaking to his old clerk, and not in a very low tone. 
It was evident that he thought the door was closed between 
the two offices. The words spoken by Bridgewell liad been 
these i^AVhat, another letter from my first wife ! Will she 
never die? Must I forever live in terror of discovery? 
When did it come, William ?^^ 

^^Yesterday, sir, while you were out.^^ 

^^Of course it was addressed to you as usual ?^^ 

^^Certainly, sir; they believe her to be my wife, not 


Mi^s :^OGd 


m 

yours; you have never been mixed up in the transactioii, 
so why will you excite yourself and worry as you do every 
time we hear from there 

^^Well^ perhaps you '’re right, William; leave me now 
to compose myself. You have told me all, have you not?^^ 

^^Yes, sir.^^ And the old man walked back to his office, 
and if he did notice that the door was ajar he said nothing 
to his employer about it, as he found his office as he had 
left it, unoccupied. 

Mathew, having discovered more than he ever expected, 
had beaten a retreat when he heard Bridgewell dismiss 
his clerk, but he did not go far; he longed to see if the 
old clerk had the letter, b^ut it was more likely that he 
had given it to his employer; still, he must make sure 
before leaving the house. He had gone into the hall after 
closing the door gently, and having previously pushed 
back the curtain enough to enable him to see what was 
going on in the office; it was already getting dark and 
the clerk lighted the gas and made everything clear in 
the room, leaving the hall comparatively dark. Certainly 
Mathew was in luck; he was pacing the hall as if waiting 
for some one ; but when he saw the light he approached the 
glass door and looked in where the curtain was pushed off, 
taking care at the same time to listen if anyone entered 
the hall, for he had no intention of being caught looking 
in the office in such a dishonorable way, that is to say 
dishonorable for a gentleman, but not for a detective. 
He saw the old clerk sitting on his high stool reading 
a letter, but was it the letter which interested Mathew 
so much ? He could n^t tell. The old man read on, then 
scratched his head ; then folding the letter and returning it 
to the envelope, he got down from his perch, opened a 
drawer, dropped the letter in, and, pushing back the 
drawer, it seemed to close with a spring by the noise it 
made. 

^^Yes,^^ thought Mathew, ^That is probably the letter. 
I would give much to get it, for I can prove nothing by 
what I have heard unless I can frighten Bridgewell into an 
admission by making him believe that I know the whole 
conspiracy ; but he is a clever lawyer, and the least mistake 
on my part will show him my ignorance of the whole thing. 
All I know is that he has a wife living somewhere, but 


AMEBlCAK HBIKESS 

where, I haven't the least idea, and that wherever she 
may be, he has taken the precaution to pass her off as 
the wife of his old clerk. That's all very well, but if 
I could find her she would soon clear up the matter and 
tell whose wife she is. 0, if I only had that letter! 
I must think; where there's a will there's a way, it is 
said. Walgrave would know how. I wonder how he is 
getting on ; he will never find out about Bridgewell's first 
wife, for it was only a mere chance with me; it was by 
no cleverness that I made the discovery; it was mere luck 
and nothing else. But I had the good sense to decamp 
before the clerk's return to the office or he might have 
suspected that I had heard some words at least, which 
might be very dangerous to his master and would warn 
him; but neither master nor clerk knew that anyone had 
been in the clerk's office." To-morrow he would call on 
Bridgewell and beat about the bush till some words escaped 
him that would give him a clew; he would first sound him 
about Lady Florence's case, and if he proved tractable he 
would let the other matter drop; but if he showed any 
intention of making it unpleasant for anyone concerned 
in the matter, then he would show his horns and make the 
best use in his power of the knowledge he had gained 
so unexpectedly. 

But Mathew's time was not all his own ; he had called 
at Lawyer Bridgewell's late that afternoon, hardly expect- 
ing to find him in his office, for it was just closing time. 
He must have had important matters to attend to, for 
he was generally at home before that time, and Mathew 
conld not expect to have the same luck on the next day, 
so he made up his mind to call earlier the next day. The 
clerk was out and Bridgewell was alone, which was just 
what Mathew wanted; two might be too many for him to 
manage. 

^^0, is that you?" said Bridgewell, as Mathew entered 
the clerk's office, the door of his private office being wide 
open. ^^Well, really, you have taken your time about 
coming; what have you made out of the business, and 
what kind of humbug is it about withdrawing the reward ? 
I have been so busy lately that I have not had time 
to investigate the matter; but I am going into it as soon 
as I have a moment to spare. What did you find out ?" 


526 


Miss HOGG 


^^Well, Mr. Bridge well, after all, it seems that we have 
all been on the wrong tack, and they say that the young 
lady has been for the past five years with her aunt, the 
Countess de Pascalina, who, as you know, died some 
months ago; and Lady Florence has been sent back to 
Lady Montgomery, and everything has been explained to 
her satisfaction. Since they have the 3^oung lady no 
more hunting is needed. I was recalled by our chief, 
and set on a murder ease.^^ 

^^And I suppose you have come here to see what you 
could get out of me, eh 

“^^No, Mr. Bridgewell/^ replied Mathew, with dignity; 
simply called to tell you that the matter was settled 
and that the case was to be dropped.^^ 

^^Look here, Mr. Mathew, I 'm too old a bird to be 
caught in such a clumsy trap, and if you were anything of 
a detective you would ‘ see through it with half an eye. 
That pill wonT go down with me, Mr. Detective,^^ he said, 
laughing in Mathew’s face. ^^There is some mystery, and 
I mean to clear it up ; I think it will pay. Miss Hogg is 
rich ; she has bribed some one to invent that tale, and unless 
I ’m at fault she will have to bribe me to keep quiet ; 
they have mixed me up in this affair and they ’re not going 
to drop me off at their pleasure. If you had been what 
your chief represented you to be you might have been 
useful to me and I would have paid you well for your 
trouble.” 

^^Yes, Mr. Bridgewell, and if you should fail in your 
expectations where would my pay be? And I must tell 
you that you are mistaken in Miss Flogg; she is not the 
woman to bribe anyone ; she is clever enough to manage you 
or me without bribery. I must talk frankly to you, sir. 
Since the matter is settled to the satisfaction of the 
principal parties why not let it drop? Do you think it 
honorable to go into private family matters for the sake of 
gain? Put yourself in their place. If 3^011 had anything 
to conceal, which, of course, is not likely,” — and he looked 
hard at the lawyer, who had flushed at his words — but 
whether at Mathew’s tone or at the hints and insinuations 
which appeared in his last words, it was hard to tell. 

^‘^Mr. Mathew,” said Bridgewell, angrily, ^fiiave you 
come here to dictate to me? It seems to me that 


THE AlsrEKTCAN HEIRESS 


527 


must be in Miss Hogg's pay or you would not be trying 
to throw me off the track. I must tell you that you are 
losing your time. I shall look into this matter and if there 
is any money to be made I shall make it without your 
help and advice." 

^^Are these your last words?" said Mathew, rising. 

^^They are; my resolution is taken; no one shall turn 
me from it." 

^^Take warning, Mr. Bridgewell; let the matter drop 
you value your peace of mind." 

^^Ah, now you are showing yourself in your true colors ; 
you are paid by Miss Hogg to turn me from my purpose. 
She must pay me two thousand pounds down, and I 
promise to allow the matter to rest." 

^^You are wrong, Mr. Bridgewell, I am not in Miss 
Hogg's pay, nor in that of anyone else; I have not even 
seen Miss Hogg; but if I should see her I would advise 
her not to bribe you, as you might return too often for 
two thousand pounds." 

^‘^Ha, ha, ha !" laughed the lawyer ; ^^you 're not a fool, 
after all." 

^‘1 'm glad you think so," said Mathew, calmly, ^^and 
I hope to prove it to you shortly. Good morning, Mr. 
Bridgewell." 

Mathew walked out, leaving the lawyer puzzled as to his 
last words, but more determined than ever to sift the 
matter to the bottom. Mathew's advice had only made him 
more obstinate, for he believed that he had been sent to 
pump him as to his intentions, and probably he had now 
gone to report and would soon return to make him an 
offer. They must fear him or they would not have sent 
Mathew to him. But that Mathew was a poor sort of a 
detective, after all. What did he mean by saying that 
he would soon prove that he was not a fool? But his 
cogitations were interrupted by the return of the clerk, on 
whom he enjoined not to fail to tell every one who might 
call to see him, that he would not return before closing 
time, he hurried away to see a rich client. The old clerk 
busied himself until long after business hours, and when 
he saw how late it was he hurriedly put everything of 
importance in the safe and locked it up. He was on the 
point of leaving the office when a man walked in l^i^rriedly^^ 


528 


MISS HOGG 


seemingly out of breath, and asked, ^^Are yon Mr. Bridge- 
welhs confidential clerk William 

am, sir; what can I do for yon?^^ 
want to say,^^ replied the strange gentleman, in a 
whisper, bending his head close to the clerk’s, "^that all 
is discovered — all about ]\Ir. Bridge well's first wife being 
alive and you passing her off as your wife. Mr. Bridgewell 
has been arrested and his house is being searched, as will 
be his office here. I am a friend of his, and he had just 
time to whisper to me that there were letters here that 
would prove his ruin if found, and that if I would save 
him I must rush to his office and ask you to give them to 
me at once. I have come, as you see, at a run to save 
my friend ; give them to me quick, and I will take them to 
my house and keep them until all danger is over. When they 
come to search the office pretend you don’t understand what 
they are looking for ; and, above all, don’t tell that anyone 
has just been here or they might suspect that I have the 
letters. I was at his house when they placed him under 
arrest.” 

The old clerk was as white as a sheet, and trembled 
from head to foot, and he said, incoherently, ^^0, sir, you 
must indeed be a great friend of ]\Ir. Bridgewell for him 
to tell you about his first wife and the letters. I thought 
I was the only one except Mr. Smith who knew of this 
terrible affair.” 

^^So you were, till lately. Give me the key. I ’ll open 
the drawer; you are trembling so you can’t find the lock;” 
and, taking the key, he opened the drawer where he had seen 
the clerk put the letter the day before. 

^^Jfow it ’s open,” he continued, ^^but as I don’t know 
which are the letters you must give them to me yourself, 
and mind that you give me them or you and your master 
are lost.” 

The old clerk’s trembling hand brought forth a package 
of about a dozen letters, which the stranger almost snatched 
from his hand, saying, ^^hTow I’m off; and if you love 
your master and wish to save him and yourself be a man ; 
be calm ; take a glass of something strong or you will spoil 
everything;” and he walked out of the office. 

As soon as h^ reached the hall he snatched off his 


THE AMERICAN- HEIRESS 


529 


long brown beard and thrust it into his pocket ; then he 
turned his loose coat inside out, and from a light gray 
coat it became a black one. He then left the dark hall and 
hurried doTO the street until he saw a cab, which he 
hailed, and was soon going full speed toward his home, 
holding fast the precious letters and laughing to himself. 
^^0, ]\Ir. Bridgewell, I ^m a fool, eh? Well, who ^s a fool 
now, to leaye such letters in the care of a cowardly old 
man? Why didn't you burn them? Why keep proofs 
that will sooner or later bring you into trouble ? 0, what 

a fright I gave that old clerk ! And he never suspected 
me. But how could he? My knowledge of the first wife 
proved a stunner for him. How- v/ill they settle matters, 
master and clerk, when they meet to-morrow? How I do 
wish I could have a peep at them. Ah, ha, Mr. Bridgewell, 
you like to find out about other people’s business, do you ? 
Well, so do I, my friend. I have taken a leaf out of your own 
book, and I am going to cure you of your appetite for 
other people’s pie; I will give you such an indigestion 
with your own that you will never again feel inclined to 
go in for that of other people or my name’s not Mathew.” 

Thus soliloquizing, he reached his room and hurried 
to read the letters, and as he read his eyes became bright 
with excitement; it was clear that he had a more difficult 
task before him than he had expected. Bridgewell had 
proved himself a clever lav/yer; the plot was grand; he 
seemed to have foreseen and provided for future discovery ; 
his name did not appear once in any of the letters; to a 
stranger they would have seemed quite honest and un- 
important. His old clerk, William Penfold, had, ten years 
ago, placed his wife in a lunatic asylum, after an examina- 
tion by two competent doctors, and he had paid regularly 
every six months, for her keep. These letters alone could 
not bring the result that Mathew expected ; and, as he said 
to himself, after reading the last one, ^^Mathew, my friend, 
you have rejoiced too soon; you’re not out of the woods 
yet; that law^^er has checkmated you as far as the letters 
are concerned ; but he can’t retract what I heard him say 
to his clerk. Then the clerk would betray everything if 
nuestiOTied: he has no self-control. Then again, I have 
the location of the asylum where the wife is ; still, I ’m not 


530 


MISS HOGG 


SO far advanced as I had hoped to be. I wonder what Wal- 
grave is doing. He will win yet. I must pay the lawyer 
another visit to-morrow and find out what is going to be 
his next move.^^ 

Poor Mathew ! He was greatly disappointed. He had 
thought the matter as good as settled, instead of which, 
he had made but very little headway; but he did not lose 
courage; he must crush the lawyer yet, cunning as he 
had proved himself to be. 


AMERidAiT BJltlfiSS 


&31 


CHAPTER LXIV. 

The tailor having measured Walgrave to his satisfac- 
tion, he opened his book, intending to ask his customers 
name and address, but Walgrave, putting a ten pound 
note on the table, said, ^^As I am a stranger to you it is 
no more than right that I should pay you in advance/^ 

^^0, no, sir, a small deposit will do, and if you will give 
me your name and address I will send you the suit at the 
end of the week/^ 

^^Thank you; I prefer to send for it, and you can keep 
the ten pounds, but let the fit be perfect/^ 

^^You are generous, sir; I wish there were more like 
you; you shall have the best fit and make in all London, 
and none but my best men shall have a hand in it/^ 

In the next room five or six men were sitting cross- 
legged on tables, stitching away ; some of them were young, 
and others very old, wearing spectsfcles. Walgrave had 
been looking at them for some time ; turning to Mr. Smith 
he asked him, suddenly, ^^Which one of these young men 
is Mr. BridgewelFs son?^^ 

The tailor^s face fiushed, and he looked at Walgrave 
before he answered, ^^How came you to know, sir, that his 
son was here T’ 

^‘^Why, I was told so by the friend who sent me here.^^ 

The tailor had thought it strange that a gentleman, 
as Walgrave appeared to be, would come right from the 
west end to Whitechapel Road to get a suit made and 
pay so generously for it. He wanted more than the suit. 
What could he want with his nephew? But he only said, 
^Terhaps you know that the young man is my nephew.^^ 

do,^^ said Walgrave, ^^and I know a great deal more f 
looking at the tailor as if he wished to read his very 
thoughts. 

^^Well, sir, I am surprised that this friend of Mr. 
Bridgewelfs has not told you that John has not been with 
me for the past nine years. Did you wish to see him 


MISS HOGG 


532 

did; but since he is not here I would like to have 
a few words with you in private/^ 

^^Certainly, sir;’^ and the tailor went into his private 
office, followed by Walgrave, who closed the door after 
him. 

^‘^Take a seat, sir. I am at your service,’^ said the tailor, 
taking one himself. 

^^Now, Mr. Smith,^^ began Walgrave, am going 
to ask you a few questions which will seem to you rather 
personal; but I want you to believe that my motives are 
honorable, and that my intention is not to make trouble, 
but to bring peace to all concerned. I know how John 
left his father’s home and what he meant when he said 
to his father, could undo your marriage with three 
words;’ they were these: ^She still lives;’ am I not well 
^ informed ?” 

^^You are,” admitted the tailor, to the great joy of 
Walgrave, who had guessed at the three words now that 
he had a clew to work on ; still, he must go slowly with the 
tailor and allow him to think that he really knew the whole 
thing instead of guessing at it; and he did not dare make 
another guess until he could learn something from the 
tailor; so he continued: 

must have been a great shock to you as well as to 
his son when you heard of Mr. Bridgewell’s marriage, for 
you could not have been aware of his intentions or you 
would have stopped the marriage.” 

^^Well, of course, sir, it would have been my duty to 
do so ; but when the thing was done I don’t think I could 
have mended matters by talking; it would have been bad 
for the young lady he had married, and for himself it would 
have been five years of penal servitude, if not more ; for he, 
being a lawyer, was more criminal than an ignorant man.” 

^^But why did he not obtain a divorce if he had grounds 
for one? — and he had good grounds,” said Walgrave, 
pretending to know all about it. 

^^Yes, sir, in one way he had ; she loved him to 
desperation; in fact, to madness; she gave him no peace; 
he had a hard life with Amelia, I must say so in justice 
to Bridgewell, though she is my sister; her jealousy knew 
no bounds ; he could n’t look at a lady but what she thought 
he wanted her dead so that he could marry again; she 


‘THE AMERlCAlt IIEIHESS S33 

would go to his office and if she found lliin talking to 
a lady client she would make a scene; he has lost many 
a client through her mad conduct ; she heeded no remon- 
strances ; she was incomprehensible, at least at that time^ 
but we understood later on. Bridgewell never gave my sister 
any cause for jealousy, but he bore it all with great 
patience, for he pitied her. He used to say, Toor Amelia 
loves me too well, and makes her own unhappiness and 
mine, and I am the laughing-stock of those who know 
her/ 

^^At last she became ill, and the doctor advised travel- 
ing; he thought change of scene would be beneficial. 
My brother-in-law left his business in charge of a brother 
lawyer and went away with his wife. They visited Ger- 
many, Italy, and France. They had been gone about six 
months when I received a letter from him asking me to 
come at once to help him settle a matter of the greatest im- 
portance. He sent me a check for my expenses, for though 
I am comfortable I cannot afford to travel, nor do I care 
to leave my business to any of my employees for any length 
of time, and Bridgewell knew that; so that the matter 
must have been serious indeed to make him ask me to go to 
him. My first thought was that Amelia was dying, and, 
of course, I left the very next day for Havre to join him 
in the Eue Justevielle, where he was staying; and I was 
to take old William Penfold, his clerk, with me, which 
puzzled me greatly, but I did as requested, and the next 
morning we arrived at his lodgings. The first question I 
asked was Ts she dead?^ His answer gave me a great 
shock; it was ^Would to God that she were ! come and look 
at her/ 

^^As we entered the room where she was I saw her 
struggling wfitli a nurse and a doctor; her hair loose, her 
eyes blazing with the fire of madness ; she knew no one — 
not even me. I could not bear the sight of my poor sister, 
and we left the room. 

^^Bridgewell said to me, ^What ought I to do? The 
doctor says she will never recover her reason, and she will 
have to be placed in an asylum. I)onT you think it would 
be better for all concerned to leave her here in France 
than to take her back to England? It w’ould be more of 
a disgrace to you than to me, for you are of the same 


Miss HO<i(i 


bU 

blood, and you have children whose prospects it might 
injure/ 1 agreed with him that it could make no difference 
to her what country she was in, but I said, ^How will you 
account for her absence ?’ ^In this way. Smith : in England 
every one must be made to think her dead; it will be best 
for all/ ^BuV said I, ^sooner or later it will be found out/ 
think noV he replied; ^and even so, who could blame 
me? It will hurt no one/ He proposed that old William 
Penfold, in whom he placed absolute trust, should take 
all the responsibility and place Amelia in an asylum as 
his own Avife, and not allow the name of Bridgewell to 
appear in tlie transaction. I approved of the plan and she 
Avas removed to Pontorson, France, under the charge of 
tAvo doctors and a nurse, the old clerk representing himself 
as her husband to save his master’s name and mine from 
shame. Hoav it has come to your knowledge is quite in- 
comprehensible to me, for Ave Avere all bound in honor not 
to tell anyone, and I knoAv that old Penfold has kept his 
word and so have I ; and yet you knoAV that she lives ; 
her son must have betrayed his father; he was dreadfully 
angry when his father married again. He came here, 
and Avanted me to take his part, saying that his father 
had driven his mother to madness. I tried to convince him 
that such was not the case. After staying with me for a 
few months he went to Hew Zealand, where I believe he 
still is, unless he has returned to make trouble for his 
father. Has he told you to make inquiries, sir ?” 

^^Ho, Mr. Smith; Avhat I knoAV I have learned from 
another source; but believe me, Mr. Bridgewell Avill not 
come to grief through me; I feel for him; he has had a 
miserable life, and it is no Avonder that he married again; 
he seemed happy with his second Avife.” 

^^Yes, I believe he is, though he never comes here; he 
fears that something might be said thoughtlessly that 
Avould lead to unpleasantness, or perhaps discovery, though 
sometimes I think he ought to have called upon me. His 
old clerk comes when he gets neAvs of my poor sister, but 
she is ahvays the same ; there ’s no improA^ement. It would 
be a terrible thing for BridgeAvell if she were to recover 
her reason. What AA^oidd become of the second Mrs. 
Bridgewell? In a case like that he could not get a divorce; 


THE ATklEJIICAN HEIRESS 535 

the law does not allow it; the party might recover un- 
expectedly and have a right to husband or wife.” 

^^Yes, 3^es, I know/^ said Walgrave; for he had known 
sorrow himself, and he could feel for others. Everybody 
seems to have trouble of some kind, and each believes 
his or her own the worst ; and each seems to be seeking for 
happiness according to his nature. 

The love of the world is strong within ns, stronger 
than we know; no matter how religions we may be there is 
a little corner in our hearts that craves for some happiness 
in this world, something to hope for. When all hope is 
gone life is very dreary; when onr loved ones are taken 
away one by one, some of them so precious that they seem 
to have been part of ourselves, our hearts seem torn 
asunder, everything is dark before us; the only light 
seems to be at the end of our journey, where we hope to 
be with them once more and forever. But to return to Wal- 
grave. When I write of the sorrows of others my own 
bleeding wounds reopen, and I digress. 

Walgrave certainly felt pity for Bridgewcll and would 
not bring trouble into his now happy home ; he would reason 
with him kindly, and if he proved himself intractable then 
he would let him know that he had him in his power and 
could have him arrested at a word for bigamy ; and surely 
Bridge well would never go so far as to defy him for the 
sake of what he could get from Miss Hogg. He would 
see him that very night and find out his intentions. He 
seemed to be an honest man, and perhaps all the trouble 
that he, Walgrave, was taking to get him into his power 
was not really necessary; still, he must be prepared and 
have all the proofs he could get from Smith while he was 
there. So he said, ^^Your brother-in-law is to bo pitied 
and I sympathize with him sincerely. You were right to 
remain silent about his marriage, for, after all, he has 
not wronged your sister since she is not likely to recover 
her reason. Is she still in the same asylum vdiere William 
Penfold had her shut up — what did you say the name 
was ?” 

Bonne Retraite at Pontorson,” replied the tailor, 
innocently, for he thought that Walgrave knew the whole 
affair. 

^Tes, yes,” said Walgrave, had forgotten; I was 


536 


MISS HOGG 


on the point of saying Le Bon Sejour, but you^re right, 
it is Betraite; but I am afraid that I have been taking up 
too much of your time, Mr. Smith, so I shall wish you 
good day; I will send for my suit in a week if you think 
it will be done by that time.^^ 

^^Certainly, sir; long before that time. But will you 
excuse me, sir, if I remind you that you have not given 
me your reasons for inquiring about my nephew 

^^Well, Mr. Smith, it was not worth while since he is 
not here; still, for your own satisfaction I will tell you 
that having learned all this story and the manner of his 
leaving his father^s house, I felt interested in him and 
wanted to try to bring about a reconciliation between them, 
for my friend told me that Mr. Bridgewell has no other 
children, and he has the name of being well off. I intended 
to intimate to your nephew that it would be to his interest 
to be on friendly terms with his father; and when you 
write to him you might so hint to him.^^ 

^^0, 1 understand, sir, and I think is very kind of you to 
take so much trouble about it and I will write and tell him. 
Good afternoon, sir, and many thanks.^^ 

That same evening Walgrave called at Lawyer Bridge- 
welFs home to sound him as to his intentions concerning 
the matter of Lady Florence. This was the same evening 
that Mathew had secured the letters from old William 
Penfold. The lawyer received him in his study, and, of 
course, knew him at once as Detective Walgrave, whom he 
had seen at Bellevue Cottage claiming Isabelle as Lady 
Florence. ^^iVh, Mr. Walgrave, I ^m happy to see you,^^ 
he said with an amused smile ; for he thought, ^^They must 
feel that they are in my power to send two of their cleverest 
detectives to bargain with me about keeping quiet about 
Miss Hogg’s sins ; I ’m willing to do it, but they must pay 
me for my silence so it is no wonder that he smiled, for 
he already saw a gold mine ready for him to draw on at 
his pleasure. ^^Take a seat, sir, and tell me your business ; 
I ’m at your command.” 

^^Mr. Bridgewell,” said Walgrave, seating himself, 
have called to inform you that Lady Florence is npw with 
her aunt. Lady Montgomery, and everything has been 
arranged to the satisfaction of every one concerned and 
'Ibe if=^ dropped; outsiders, too, are Requested to drop 


THU AMERICAN liEIRESS 637 

the matter/^ he added, sternly, as he saw the cunning smile 
on the lawyers face. 

Bridgewell replied, ^^Easier said than done, my dear 
sir; I have been drawn into this business by no wish of 
my own; but after seeing that I can derive advantage 
from it you cannot expect me to withdraw because you 
choose to say, ^It is our wish that you drop it you will 
admit, Mr. W algrave, that it is not businesslike, and that I 
cannot consent to the arrangement, I tell you frankly. I 
am a lawyer, and my motto is, “^make money when the 
chance to do so presents itself;^ and in this case I see an 
abundant harvest if things are properly managed, and 
I intend to manage the case to the best of my abilities. 
That the principals are in my power is as clear as day or 
why would they send men like you and Mathew to pump 
me as to my intentions, as you have both done 

^^Mr Bridge well,^^ said Walgrave, with dignity, was 
not aware that Mr. Mathew had called upon you. When 
did he do so 

^^Yesterday, sir; and he begged me so hard not to 
interfere in the matter that I saw the situation at once ; he 
told me a cock and bull story about Lady Florence of 
which I did not believe one word ; but he showed me that 
my silence would be golden and I mean that it shall be; 
so you can tell those who sent you that they will have 
to lock my lips with a golden key.^^ 

^^Mr. Bridgewell, you will be surprised, and perhaps 
not believe me, when I tell you that no one has sent me; 
that I have come of my own accord; nor do I intend to 
bribe you. Still, I had hoped that you would be willing 
to drop the matter and not revive that scandal since the 
principals in it are satisfied with matters as they stand now. 
You have the name of being an honest lawyer, and I must 
say that your expressed intentions have surprised me not 
a little. Do you really intend to sell your silence 

do, Mr. Walgrave, and I still think myself an honest 
lawyer. If they were poor it would alter the case and I 
would be a scoundrel to rob a man of his last penny because 
I knew his secret; but circumstances alter cases; and in 
this case if I bleed the two principals they will not be 
any worse off.^^ 

^^But it is blackmail,^^ said Walgrave, with disgust. 


638 


Miss HOGa 


^^That^s an ngly word, Mr. Walgrave, and I object 
to it; simply paid for keeping silent, as I would be 
paid for speaking, on some conditions.^^ 

^^But, Mr. Bridgewell, put yourself in their place ; how 
would you like to feel that you are in the power of some 
one who has your secret and threatens to expose you unless 
you pay him what he asks you to keep silent? Would you 
live in peace after having paid him a certain sum, or would 
you not more likely live in fear that he would come again 
and as often as he chose ; for having given him the first pay 
you put yourself in his power.'’^ 

admit that what you state is perfectly correct, Mr. 
Walgrave, but you see I am on the right side in this affair, 
and will be the gainer, not the loser. If I were on the 
other side I might think differently;’^ and he laughed, 
thinking he had the best of the argument with Walgrave, 
as he thought he had had with Mathew the day before. 

Walgrave sat tapping his boot with his cane, and seemed 
to be reflecting as to his next move; then, looking up at 
the lawyer, he said, ^^So you are determined to make use 
of your knowledge to extort money. I will not mince 
matters with you; I see that I am mistaken as to your 
character ; I had hoped to settle matters with you amicably ; 
but since you have refused all my advances I must tell you 
that not one penny will be paid to you for your silence, 
and you will be silent.” 

^^0, indeed, how do you propose to accomplish such 
a miracle, Mr. Walgrave? You are really too amusing.” 

can assure you,” replied Walgrave, ^^that it is far 
from amusing, and I am sorry that you force me to use 
my knowledge of certain events in your past life which I 
would prefer to let rest. It is not yet too late. Agree to 
wdiat I have proposed and let us drop the subject.” 

The lawyer had turned pale at Walgrave’s first words, 
but he soon recovered his equanimity as Walgrave pro- 
ceeded, for he thought : ^Tt ’s all guesswork ; he ’s feeling 
his way, supposing that I may have committed some follies 
in my youth, as so many of us do, but he cannot know my 
secret; still, he’s a clever man, and certainly his shot 
was well. aimed. I felt my* blood run cold, and he must 
have read it in my..' face; still, he can never suspect tlio 
real thing ; he only tried to make me betray myself, aiul 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


539 


I nearly did it. I must be on my guard ; he a dangerous 
man; his eyes seem to read right through me;"^ but he 
said^ with a show of anger, ^^There is nothing in my past 
life that will keep me silent if I wish to speak. ‘ I am an 
honest man.^^ 

‘^^My knowledge of the past does not bear on your 
honesty, Mr. Bridgewell, and remember that you are 
forcing me to speak, and I would advise you not to speak 
so loud, as it might attract your wife^s attention and she 
might hear things that would not add to her happiness 
and peace of mind.^^ 

The lawyer was growing very pale, and fearful of what 
was coming, but he tried hard not to show his fear. He 
must discover how much Walgrave really did know of his' 
dreadful secret, and escape him yet if possible; he would 
tight to the end. He said, ^^Eeally, Mr. Warlgrave, I fail to 
understand you ; pray do not hint any longer, but speak out 
and give me a chance to clear myself.^^ 

^‘^Well, Mr. Bridgewell, since you will have it, and will 
not take warning — for I would have spared you if you 
had not forced me to speak^^ — and bending toward the 
lawyer, and speaking in a whisper, he said, know that 
your first wife lives and is at the present time in an asylum 
at Pontorson, France.^^ 

The lawyer had expected it and he bore the revelation 
bravely, saying, ^^The woman at Pontorson is my clerk^s 
Avife, not mine, sir ; you insult me.^^ 

^^Mr. Bridgewell.'’^ said Walgrave, sternly, ^^enough of 
this child’s play ; I wanted' to spare you, but you would not 
be spared, so let your ruin be your own work; it is your 
doing, not mine. I will prove the woman in the asylum 
to be your wife beyond a doubt, and destroy your happy 
home, unless you consent to drop eA^erything relating to 
Lady Florence’s case. Hoav Avhat is your answer? Let 
us not Avaste more time, but come to a decision at once.” 

^‘'jMr. Walgrave, I can assure you that you are laboring 
under a mistake in regard to that Avoman; and as for Lady 
Florence's case, I think Ave will let it be for the present; 
perhaps it would be better to allow it to drop, as you 
proposed. I am very much upset, Mr. Walgrave, and I 
can’t stand much more. Come again in two days and we 
will conclude this affair to your satisfaction; and in the 


540 


MISS HOGG 


meantime I give yon my word that I will not communicate 
with either Miss Hogg or Lady Montgomery, either directly 
or indirectly; will that satisf}' yon, Mr. Walgrave?’^ 

^^It will have to,^^ said Walgrave, rising to go. 
conrse yon know what the conseqnences will be if yon 
shonld deceive me. Good night, Mr. Bridgewell.^’ 

^^Good night, Mr. Walgrave,*’ said Bridgewell, alond; 
then to himself : shall be ready for yon in two days and 

able to defy yon, clever as yon are; do yon imagine that 
I ’m going to give np the fine prospect that I see before 
me? The x\merican heiress will pay well not to have 
her name in the papers, and for such an ontrageons deed 
too. Then there ’s Lady Montgomery ; bnt I shall have 
to go gently in that qnarter or it may prove dangerons 
for me ; bnt as for the American heiress, I ’ll plnck her 
to the best of my ability ; she will prove to be my goose 
that lays the golden eggs if I can shake off that Walgrave. 
I wonder how he has found ont abont my first wife ; I would 
give something to know. It mnst be that precious son of 
mine who has been talking; I believed him to be in N'ew 
Zealand. Has he, perchance, returned, and is he going 
to work my downfall ? However, in two days I shall defy 
him and Walgrave too, for the proof shall be removed 
where they will not be likely to find her. Penfold mnst 
start to-morrow morning. Amelia mnst be taken to an- 
other asylnm under another name. I know a private 
asylnm in Germany ; the head doctor and I went to college 
together ; I ’ll explain matters to him ; he v.dll never tell 
anyone she is in his establishment; that is the very thing. 
Then I can defy Walgrave and that son of mine; he ought 
to be there too. I never thonght he wonld have told after 
so many years.” 

As Walgrave left Bridgewell he did not feel very easy 
abont the lawyer. He thonght to himself I conld not have 
done differently ; I conld not refuse the two days’ respite ; 
still, I know that he has a motive in asking for the delay 
and that he means mischief. I mnst be on the watch ; he 
shall not escape me and have the langh on me ; he ’s 
anything bnt a fool; he seems to have had the langh on 
Mathew from his own account, bnt I doubt very much if he 
has taken Mathew in as he supposes. I mnst go to work 
early to-morrow or that lawyer will escape me yet j I feel it. 


THB AMERICAN HEIRESS 


041 


CHAPTER LXV. 

Mathew, after reading the letters, promised himself 
to pay another visit to the lawyer on the morrow. As 
he neared the lawyer^s office he saw old William Penfold 
coming out of it, seemingly in great haste; his face was 
pale, and his lips compressed; he looked neither to the 
right nor to the left or he would have seen Mathew, who 
had no time to hide, not having expected the old clerk to 
leave the office before twelve o^clock to go to his dinner, and 
it could not be more than eleven o’clock. Mathew followed 
him instead of entering the office. Penfold htirried along 
until he saw an omnibus which was going over Waterloo 
Bridge. He got in, leaving Mathew behind him, for he 
did not dare get into the same omnibus, as he was not 
disguised ; he went at a rapid gait on the bridge, but he 
could not keep up with it as it did not stop either to take 
on or let off passengers; and not an empty cab passed 
Mathew, who was getting very hot and anxious, for he had 
to lose sight of the old clerk. It was of the greatest im- 
portance, however, that he should know his destination. 
He could only see the top of the omnibus now in the 
crowd of wagons, cabs, and omnibuses going in the other 
direction. Would no vehicle come his way? He had 
turned round more than once during his progress, and 
he had failed to see any; but this time an omnibus was 
coming, and he thanked his stars as he leaped in, or, more 
correctly speaking, got on top, so as -to better watch the 
one that Penfold was in. He saw it stop at the gates of 
Waterloo Station; he got down and ran up to the station 
quite out of breath, for it was uphill; he then looked 
all around like a dog who has lost his master, looking at 
the trains, then in the ticket office ; but no Penfold was to 
be seen. A train was moving away ; he stood on the plat- 
form staring at every window, and, to his dismay, he saw 
Penfold in the last carriage. Mathew could have danced 
yrith. rage. 

Where was the train going? He was told by a porter 


542 


MISS HOGG 


that it was going to Southampton; then he guessed that 
Penfold was going to France — probably to remove Bridge- 
well’s wife. The clerk must have told his master how the 
letters had been gotten from him the night before. The 
lawyer was proving. himself a clever man. The letters did 
not compromise him except by the name of the asylum. 
JTow if Penfold removed his supposed wife and took her 
to another asylum, how was he, Mathew, to find out which 
it would be? 0, if he could only have arrived in time to 
take the same train; but he could not go without leave; 
his time was not his own. All these thoughts had passed 
through his mind while he went to the train office to inquire 
when the next train left for Southampton ; he was told that 
one would leave in three hours — three hours of torture 
for him; he had time to go to his chief to get permission 
to follow Penfold; still, he did not do so, but sent a 
telegram and waited for an answer, which, of course, 
he soon received, and permission to absent himself for 
three days. He then dined, smoked a cigar, and walked 
about until his train came into the station ; he got aboard, 
and felt relieved to be on his way. Perhaps the steamer 
for France would not leave before his arrival, and, if so, 
he would disguise himself and sail in the same boat with 
Penfold ; but his hopes were vain. When he made inquiries 
he was told that the steamer for Havre had left an hour 
ago. He inquired about the next one and was informed 
that none would leave for two days; they only ran three 
times a week; but that a boat would leave for San Malo 
that night at twelve. 

Mathew was overjoyed, for he still had a chance of 
arriving in time to prevent Penfold from removing Mrs. 
Bridgewell from La Bonne Retraite. He bought his ticket 
and went straight aboard the steamer. Being already late, 
he had not long to wait before he was on his way to San 
Malo. Would he get there in time? How slowly the small 
steamer was going ! How the waves washed on the deck ! 
How the wind blew and tossed the little steamer about ! 
It was a wonder it could stand such weather. Mathew was 
told that they had often had worse weather than this. Some 
of the sailors had been on long voyages and had not met 
the storms they did on these short passages. 

Mathew retired to his cabin^ and for a time fel}] so 


tfHE AKKRICAK tIEIRESS 343 

seasick that he forgot everything but his sufferings, which 
lasted until they saw land, when it left him as suddenly as 
it had come on ; and he felt now none the worse for it, 
only looked a little paler. He was glad to land and satisfy 
his appetite. 

We shall leave him enjoying a good substantial break- 
fast, and return to Bridgewell, who was greatly shocked 
that morning when his old clerk said to him, am glad to 
see you here this morning, sir ; I was afraid that they would 
keep you under arrest.^^ 

don’t understand you, William; there was certainly 
trouble at my house last night, but I was not under arrest ; 
and how came you to know that anything had happened at 
my house 

^^Why, sir, the man you sent for those letters told me 
that you had been arrested, that everything about your 
first wife was known, and that a search had been made in 
your house; that you feared that the letters would ruin 
you, and that I was to give them up to the gentleman 
you had sent.’’ 

^^And did you do it?” asked Mr. Bridgewell, with the 
look of a hunted dog in his face, which had become very 
pale as his old clerk proceeded to tell him what had 
happened the evening before. 

did, sir, every one of them, believing it to be your 
wish ; but now I see by your face that I have been trapped ; 
but how came that gentleman to know about your first 
wife and the letters ?” said Penfold, trembling in every 
limb. 

^‘1 don’t know ; perhaps through my son ; I know of no 
one else; and yet he knew nothing about the letters. I 
am puzzled, Penfold. The party who got the letters from 
you must have been Walgrave, the detective. How did the 
man look?” 

A^Well, sir, I was so upset that I can’t tell for sure; 
still, I think — in fact, I know, that he had a long brown 
beard and a Derby hat, and his clothes were some kind 
of gray; I know that they were light.” 

^Was he tall?” 

^^Well, yes, pretty tall; for I know that when ho stood 
by me and whispered to me about the letters, he bent over 
to reach n>y ear; so he must have been taller ihan T am." 


544 


mss Eom 


Peii.fold, you may depend upon it that it was 
Walgrave disguised. What time was it? It must have 
been before he called upon me, for it was past closing 
time when he came to my house.^^ 

^‘Well, sir, it must have been past six, for I had so many 
things to do that I forgot the time.^^ 

^^Strange !” said Bridgewell ; ^^that was the time, as 
near as possible, that he called on me ; I can^t make it out. 
Is it possible that there are two who know of this dreadful 
business? It really seems so to me. Now look here, 
William, the letters can^t compromise me for I ^m not 
mentioned in them; but the address of the asylum which 
is printed on the top is the dangerous part. You must go 
to France and remove my wife to Germany. I will give you 
a letter to a friend of mine there; and when she is in his 
care I can defy the whole pack of detectives."” 

^^But, sir,” said the trembling clerk, ^Hhey will be there 
before me and have me arrested.” 

“^No, Penfold, they have the letters and they are not 
going to hurry to the asylum at once ; what would they gain 
by it ? They will either come here to make terms with me 
or they will write their conditions; in either case I will 
delay them for a few days so as to give you time to act, 
and when the thing is done I will laugh in their faces and 
defy them to prove anything. But, William, you will have 
to look calm, and should you be questioned as to your 
frightened look, you must say that it is the disgrace of 
having your poor wife in an asylum, and its being found 
out; and if questioned as to the reason for her removal, 
you must say it is the doctors’ orders, for they hope that 
the change will benefit her, and that she was not to be 
excited by seeing strangers. Eemember all this, for I may 
not have another chance to tell you ; and all this is to be 
as coming from yourself, not from me.” 

know, sir ; I ’m not a fool, but I ’m a poor hand 
at deception, I like straightforwardness, and all this upsets 
me. When must I go ?” 

^^At once, as soon as I have written this letter.” 

He wrote the letter and gave the old clerk, and some 
money, with which he departed, followed, and missed, by 
Mathew, as we have seen. 


TH^1 AMTiHldAN HEIRIESS 54S 

And now we will see whether Mathew is the only 
pursuer of poor, innocent old Penfold, who was only a tool 
in the hands of the clever lawyer. 

Walgrave had risen early that morning, determined not 
to give Bridgewell a chance of escape ; he disguised himself 
as a Jew in good circumstances, and then, hiring a cab by 
the hour, he was driven to within a short distance of the 
lawyer’s office, leaving his cab around the corner ; he walked 
about, looking in shop windows, and yet keeping an eye 
on Bridgewell’s office door. He saw the old clerk come 
up the street at about a quarter to nine; then at half past 
nine Bridgewell went in. ^^Ah, ha,” thought Walgrave, 
means business to be here half an hour before his usual 
time; I thought as much, and I ca^ guess pretty much 
what is going to happen.” But he became impatient wait- 
ing, and he feared that the lawyer or Penfold had left the 
office by a back door, having suspected that they were 
being watched. He ventured into the hall and had a peep 
into the office, and to his great relief, he saw master and 
employee earnestly talking together, and his face brightened 
as he murmured, ^^All is going as I expected; he is telling 
his clerk what happened last night, and he would not 
do so if he did not mean to ask some service of him.” 
Walgrave was partly right, buj; he was quite ignorant of 
the trick played on the lawyer by Mathew, and of course 
knew nothing whatever of the missing letters ; so, 
having made sure that the men had not escaped him he 
returned to the street, saw that his cab was ready for im- 
mediate use, and returned just in time to see Mathew 
coming towards him. He was probably going to Bridge- 
well’s. Would Mathew’s visit alter Bridgewell’s plans? 

As Mathew neared the office Walgrave turned his back 
to him and walked away a short distance, and then stood 
apparently admiring the jewelry displayed in the window 
of a large shop ; he had no fear of being positively 
recognized by Mathew; still, it was safer to keep at a 
distance, for he knew how sharp Mathew was. He turned 
around just in time to see Mathew enter the office, as he 
thought, but instead of that he saw Penfold coming out 
pale and stern and walking briskly towards Mathew, who, 
turning his head away, passed Penfold as if he had never 
seen him before. If Penfold had looked up he would have 


546 


Miss HO<M 


recognized him as the detective who had visited his master, 
but not as the man who had got the letters from him so 
cleverly, and he would not have altered his course. Still, 
Mathew seemed well pleased that he had not been recog- 
nized by him, and after passing for a short distance he had 
faced about and followed the clerk. 

Walgrave, after watching this amusing pantomime, got 
into his cab, telling the cabman to follow those two men ; 
he sat back in the hansom to see what Mathew intended 
to do ; he saw him run on W aterloo Bridge to keep up with 
the omnibus. Had they not agreed not to help or show 
favor to one another he would have called to him to get 
into liis cab; but he knew that Mathew would not thank 
him for it, and would feel humiliated by it ; so he simply 
watched the race. 

The cabman having seen one of the men get into 
the bus, asked which he was to follow. 

^^The one in the bus;’^ was the reply. 

thought cabby, ^11 bet my head that these here 
two fellows, the one in the cab and the other running, are 
detectives, running after the same game, and each on his 
own hook, or this ^ere one would have helped T other one by 
giving him a ride. I wonder what the old fellow has 
done; he looks as if butter, would n’t melt in his mouth; 
but there ’s no telling an honest man from a thief these 
days.’’ 

He became interested in the chase. When the bus 
stopped at Waterloo Station he stopped too; and when the 
old man went up the steep road to the train he followed 
right into the station and then stopped and wondered what 
was going to happen. Would the gentleman Jew in his 
cab stop the old fellow from leaving by train? He must 
owe him money; that was it. 

Walgrave got down from his cab, followed Penfold into 
the office, heard him ask for a ticket to Havre; then saw 
him take his seat in the train which was about to start ; and 
he was on the platform when poor Mathew came up quite 
out of breath, but still trying to appear natural and calm ; 
and then he looked about for Penfold, on the platform, 
in the office, and then in the moving train, with dismay 
on his handsome face. All this had been seen by Walgrave, 
unknown to Mathew, who felt very bad, but would have 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


547 

felt worse had he been aware of Walgrave's presence. Wal- 
grave waited to see what would be Mathew’s next move. 
He saw him go to the telegraph office. ^‘Ah/’ thought he, 
‘^you are going to checkmate me ; that ’s what I meant to 
do;” and he felt vexed that he had not done it. MathcAV 
filled a form, paid a shilling, and waited as if expecting 
an answer. What answer did he want if he had telegraphed 
to the place that Walgrave was thinking of? Perhaps, 
after all, he was not on the same tack, and knew nothing 
of Penfold’s destination. How could he know? It was 
almost impossible for him to have found out about Bridge- 
well’s first wife and where she was ; so he waited and heard 
Mathew ask about the trains, then followed him to a 
restaurant in Waterloo Eoad, near the gates, and heard 
Iiim order dinner. He seated himsblf at a table not far 
off, laughing to himself at the thought of being so near 
Mathew and the latter so unconscious of his presence. 
He now guessed that the telegram Mathew had received 
in answer to the one he had sent must be from headquarters, 
giving him leave of absence, for he knew the rules. He 
followed him back to the station and saw him leave; then 
going to the telegraph office he filled a form and sent the 
following words to the owner of the as3dum at Pontorson : 

^^Do not deliver the woman known as Mrs. Penfold, even 
to her supposed husband, under any circumstances, until an 
investigation has been made, under penalty of the law. 
Henry Walgrave, former detective. Send answer to Scot- 
land Yard, Capt. Thompson.” 

^^There, Mr. Bridgewell, this will get there before your 
clerk. I see now your reason for wanting two days’ 
respite ; you ’re a cunning fellow, but you will not escape 
us;” and he returned to his cab and was driven to his 
hotel to await results. 


548 


MISS Hoaa 


CHAPTEE LXVI. 

Xow let us see how Mathew is getting on. He hurried 
with his late breakfast, and was soon on his way to Pontor- 
son, fearing all the time that Penfold would reach there 
before he would, for his passage had been much longer 
than Penfold’s. Still, Penfold being an old man, might 
have taken a needed rest on reaching Havre, not knowing 
that he was being followed. Mathew consoled himself with 
all these thoughts, but still his train seemed to go very 
slowly. In fact, the French trains are not equal to the 
English ones in speed, very far from it ; still, he was near- 
ing his destination, and he felt overjoyed when he heard 
the guard call out, ^Tontorson, Pontorson !’’ He left 
the car and looked about for a cab, but only saw a few 
small omnibuses which carried passengers but a short 
distance out of town; none went as far as the asylum; 
so that he had to go to the hotel, where he was told that 
he could get a cabriolet. On inquiry, he learned that 
it had been hired by an old gentleman to go to the very 
same place that he wanted to go to, and who had only 
started a few minutes ago; he could have gone with him, 
for there was room for two; perhaps he was a friend of 
the old gentleman. 

^^Just so,^^ said Mathew; ^^how can I overtake him?’^ 

^^We have horses, sir,^^ said the host. 

^^Have you two, and a man who knows the way to the 
asylum 

^^That we have, monsieur. Here, Jeannot, quick; 
saddle our two best horses, and bring them round ; and you, 
Pierre,^^ calling to a boy of about sixteen, ^^put on your 
jacket and show this gentleman the way to the Bonne 
Retraite/^ Turning to Mathew, he said, ^^Will not mon- 
sieur have supper? It is quite ready 

^^Xo, no; I am in a hurry; just let me have a glass of 
your best wine and hurry your men.^^ 

The landlord, seeing that there was nothing to gain by 
delaying Mathew, soon had the horses at the door, and 


THE AMEiilCAH HEIRESS 


549 


Mathew and the boy started. In about twenty minutes 
they saw a dark speck going up a hill at some distance 
before them. The boy, who took the lead, looked back at 
Mathew and said, ^^That ^s our cabriolet, sir.^^ 

^‘^All right, my boy, try to overtake it and I dl give you 
five francs.^^ 

"'Tres bien^ monsieur, I will do so;^’ and it looked 
very much as if they would, for the speck was growing 
larger; they were gaining rapidly on the cabriolet, and 
it was really Penfold inside of it. Hearing the galloping 
horses behind him he looked fack with fear as the thought 
came to him, am pursued.^^ He asked the driver if he 
knew the parties who were coming at such a pace. The 
man, after looking for a moment, said, know one of them 
— a boy from our hotel; and those horses are ours; but I 
donT know the gentleman in black; he looks English 
to me ; perhaps he ^s a friend of yours ; shall I stop 

^^Ho, no, go on as fast as you can.^^ 

it will be no use, sir, we can’t escape them ; they ’re 
upon us. If this gentleman is after you, sir, it would 
be as well to wait for him here, for he will be sure to 
catch us in less than five minutes.” 

^^Go ahead, I tell you,” screamed Penfold, who had 
become mad with fear; ^^go ahead and try to reach the 
asylum before they can come up with us.” 

’ll try,” replied the driver, whipping his horse ; ^^but 
it is next to impossible.” 

^^Yes, yes, you can, if you only try. Is not that large 
building the Bonne Retraite 

^^Yes, it is.” 

^T thought I recognized it. Quicker, quicker, my man, 
and I ’ll give you ten francs if you reach the house first.” 

’m willing, sir, but the horse won’t do it ; he ’s not 
equal to those behind us.” 

They were going down hill at a breakneck pace; the 
cabriolet seemed to be on the point of upsetting every time 
the wheels went over a stone, and the horse could not have 
stopped had they wished him to. They could no longer see 
the two horsemen, as they were still coming up the hill 
behind them ; they soon came in sight, however, but tliej 
did not rush down the hill as Penfold was doing; they 
kept control of their horsey. 


550 


MISS HOGG 


Penfold kept on calling, ^^6o ahead, go ahead,^^ not real- 
izing the danger that he was exposing himself to by going 
at such a speed. His mind was set on reaching the asylum 
first. True, he could not expect to remove Mrs. Bridgewell 
from there with a detective at his heels, for he felt that 
the man pursuing him was one, but if he arrived first he 
could bribe the owner to deny that his supposed wife was 
or ever had been there, and so checkmate the detective: 
but should the detective arrive first everything would be 
lost, he would be arrested, and his master’s arrest would 
soon follow. So he kept on calling, ^^Go ahead, go ahead !” 

They had reached the gate of the avenue leading to the 
house, where Mathew, who was far ahead of the boy, passed 
the cabriolet at a terrible speed, his horse covered with 
foam, and Penfold, to his dismay, saw him reach the house. 
Throwing himself from his horse, and dropping the reins, 
he ran up the steps leading to the main door ; it was opened 
by a servant and he disappeared into the house. Mathew 
met in the hall the head doctor, who had come to ascertain 
the meaning of the chase he had witnessed from one of 
the windows. Mathew spoke to him as calmly as he could, 
for he was very much out of breath. 

^^Are you the principal, sir?” he said. 

am. What is your business ?” he replied, leading the 
way to the private office. 

wish to know, sir, if Mrs. Penfold has been removed 
from here.” 

‘"‘^0, I see,” said the doctor; ^^you are Mr. Walgrave, 
the detective, and fearing that your telegram would not 
prove sufficient, you have come yourself in hot haste ; 
however, Mrs. Penfold is here, and, so far, no one has tried 
to remove her.” 

Mathew was struck dumb at the name of Walgrave, 
who had been before him, and all this haste had been quite 
unnecessary. Penfold had been checkmated by Walgrave, 
not by him, Mathew, as he had supposed. True, he had 
arrived in time to prevent him removing Mrs. Bridge- 
well; still, Walgrave had sent the warning first. Plow 
had he discovered the existence of Mrs. Bridgewell number 
one ? Ah, AValgrave’s brain was better than his ; still, some- 
thing must be done; the matter must be decided at once; 
the lawyer mnst give in ; he, Mathew, would not leave the 


AMEUlCA^r IIlEIREgS 


S51 


asylum until he received the assurance from the lawyer 
himself that he agreed to drop everything relating to Lady 
Florence’s case. 

‘'^But what has happened ? What has Mr. Penfold done, 
and why should he wish to remove his wife from here? 
Is he not satisfied with our treatment? We have done 
our best to cure her but the case is hopeless ; we told him 
so at the first.” 

^^Yes, doctor, he knows it, and if you will allow me to 
speak to him in private I can nromise you that Mrs. 
Penfold will remain with you.” 

The doctor saw clearly that there was a mystery, but 
that it would not be to his interest to try to fathom 
it; so he rang the bell, and when the servant appeared he 
said, ^^Where is the gentleman who came in the cabriolet ?” 

^Tn the waiting room, sir.” 

^^Show him in here.” 

^^Yes, sir ;” and the servant left the room. 

^^i^ow, Mr. Mathew,” said the doctor, ‘^^your business 
with Mr. Penfold is naturally private, so I am going to 
leave you alone with him, and if you require my presence 
you can ring;” and he left the room as Penfold came in 
as white as a sheet and trembling in every limb. 

Mathew really pitied the old man, and he said: ^^Mr. 
Penfold, sit down; I wish to have a few words with you. 
Of course you know me; I am Detective Mathew, and 
you may as well know that it was I who got the letters 
from you. I know the whole conspiracy, and so does Mr. 
Walgrave, though he doesn’t know it through me. He 
has sent a telegram to the principal here forbidding him 
to deliver your supposed wife to anyone, even yourself; 
so that even if I had not followed you, as I have done, you 
could not have removed her as you intended to do. This 
has not been done to injure you; Mr. Bridgewell has 
brought all this trouble upon himself and you by his own 
obstinacy. He has learned, by mere chance, some family 
secrets, and he intends to use them for purposes of 
blackmail, forgetting, apparently, that he also had a secret 
that would be his ruin, if discovered. Mr. Walgrave and 
I have been looking up his history and have come upon 
the secret; but the only use we intend to make of it is 
to compel him to abandon his intentions towards the 


MISS HOdd 


552 

parties he had intended to blackmail. ISToW that you 
understand this matter, Mr. Penfold, you may feel quite 
safe; no harm will come to you unless your master is so 
blind in his greed for money that he will not come to our 
terms. I wish you would telegraph to liim in a few words 
that you are here in my power, and that I will not leave 
you for a moment until we get his answer ; and if it should 
not be what we want we will arrest you and him both ; and 
that, in any case, the so-called Mrs. Penfold is to remain 
in this asylum; if he tries to remove her clandestinely his 
immediate arrest will follow; if he consents to our terms 
his secret will be safe, so far as Mr. Walgrave and I are 
concerned.^^ 

understand, Mr. Mathew,^^ replied Penfold, more 
calmly than might have been expected from him after the 
episode he had just played so prominent and dangerous 
a part in. will write at once and tell Mr. Bridgewell 
how matters stand. If I could have foreseen events I 
would never have had a hand in this affair; when it was 
done I did not think it could harm anyone, as we were 
assured that the lady would never recover her reason; and 
my master had suffered so much, and had always been 
so good and patient with her that I pitied him and was 
willing to allow her to pass as my wife to save him from 
disgrace. You must not think, Mr. Mathew, that I ^m 
a villain lost to every feeling of honor. My own life has 
been honest, and I must tell you that Mr. Bridgewell 
has always been considered an honest lawyer. What can 
have come over him to make him want to blackmail anyone 
is beyond me. Does the superior here know the truth 
about the lady?^'’ 

^^Yo, not from me; of course he suspects that every- 
thing is not as it should be, but as long as the patient 
remains here it will be to his interest to keep silent.^^ 

^^Yes, you are right, Mr. Mathew. Who is going to take 
my telegram to the office 

^^The boy v/ho came with me.^^ 

^Wery well; let me have writing materials.^^ 

Materials being supplied, the old clerk wrote for some 
time; Mathew declared himself satisfied with what was 
written, and gave it to the boy with orders to wait for the 
answer. 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


553 


Mathew then sent for the principal and told him that 
he^ Mathew, would be obliged to remain in the asylum 
until he could receive an answer to the telegram he had 
just sent. He and Penfold dined and spent the night there. 
The next morning the answer to the telegram arrived. The 
lawyer had acced^ed to everything, so that the affair was 
now settled. Mathew and Penfold saw Mrs. Bridgewell 
before leaving; she did not look unhappy or neglected. 
The doctor, having been well paid for his trouble, saw them 
to their cab. Mathew and the old clerk seemed to be on 
the best of terms, and sat side by side like two old friends, 
while the boy took charge of the horse that Mathew had 
ridden so hard the day before. The matter being so far 
settled to the satisfaction of Mathew and Penfold, we will 
leave them to return to London, nothing worth recording 
having happened during the journey. 

Let us precede them and see what Walgrave is doing, 
and how the lawyer received the news by telegram or 
cablegram, that Mathew had Penfold in his power, and 
threatened to arrest him too if he did not resign all claims 
in the matter of Lady Florence. And this was the man he 
had called a fool ! What a mistake he had made ! He must 
be the man who had got the letters, and so found out all 
about the asylum and had guessed at the rest. After all, 
he had proved himself superior to Walgrave, who was 
waiting patiently for two days to elapse. 0, if he had only 
had him to deal with he would have come out the winner. 
All these thoughts passed through his mind after reading 
the telegram, which he still held in his hand when a step 
was heard in the outer office. It was Walgrave. After 
exchanging salutations he said, ^^You must excuse me, 
Mr. Bridgewell, if I call on you to-day instead of to- 
morrow. I am in hopes that you have received news from 
France that will enable you to settle the matter sooner than 
you had proposed doing. Am I mistaken? I think not; 
if I read aright the expression in your face we shall soon 
settle the matter.^^ 

^^How do you know, Mr. Walgrave, that I have received 
news from France said Bridgewell, angrily. 

^^Because, Mr. Bridgewell, I knew that you had sent 
Penfold to France to remove your wife to another asylum ; 
and I also knew that Detective Math^vr left in hpt pursuit 


554 


MISS HOGG 


of your clerk; but as Mr. Penfold had a start of aboni 
three hours of Mathew, and fearing that he might have 
time to remove the lady or to bribe the principal of La 
Bonne Retraite, I sent a telegram forbidding liim to de- 
liver her to anyone, not even to her supposed husband, 
under the penalty of the law. N’ow I hope I have made 
everything clear to you; and having seen the messenger 
from the telegraph office bring you a telegram, I have 
come here to hear your decision. If you refuse to come 
to terms I will wire Mathew to keep Penfold under arrest 
and bring both him and your wife here ! and we will 
see if her brother, Mr. Smith, of Whitechapel Eoad, will 
deny that she is his sister. 'Now, are you convinced that you 
are entirely in our power, and that all that is required of 
you is to drop Lady Florence's case and your secret will 
be safe?’^ 

The lawyer, during this long speech, had changed color 
more than once, and his face wore a look of wonder and 
astonishment at the cleverness of the two detectives having 
drawn their net closer and closer around him till they had 
pulled the strings, as Mathew and AValgrave were doing 
at the present time — and had him fast — bound hand and 
foot, without a possibility of escape. The lawyer sav/ it, 
and though he felt terribly humiliated, he saw the ad- 
vantage of giving in, for Mr. Walgrave seemed terribly in 
earnest, and would certainly carry out his threat. He ad- 
mitted to himself that Mr. Walgrave was acting very 
generously toward him, claiming nothing for his secret ; ho 
was acting the perfect gentleman that he was. 

The lawyer said, ^^Mr. Walgrave, the less 1 say the 
better, for 1 cannot justify myself in your eyes; I have 
been in the wrong ; money tempts some of us to evil deeds. 
I accept your terms, and will notify Penfold to that 
effect.^^ 

^^Yery well,^^ replied Walgrave, ^That is all I wish for; 
but bear in mind that the lady is not to be removed from 
the asylum ; if you attempt her removal I will be apprised 
of it and will show you no mercy. Good evening, Mr. 
Bridgewell.^^ Walgrave walked out of the office, well 
pleased that the affair had ended so satisfactorily for all 
parties. 

The next while Bridgewell was in his office, WaL 


AMiJRICAN HEIRESS 55S 

grave called ai his house, saw Mrs. Bridgewell, told her 
that he v/as satisfied that the small inheritance belonged 
to her husband, and gave her the two hundred pounds. 
True, the lawyer did not deserve it, but the information 
he had received from the wife had been well worth it, 
and as he told Mrs. Bridgewell, the will gave her the 
two hundred pounds, thougli it came from her husband^s 
people; if she told him so he would understand; and he 
added: ^^My name is Walgrave; I have been employed in 
this case, and it gives me pleasure to see you so rejoiced; 
may it bring you a blessing.^^ 

She thanked him warmly, but could not understand 
why he should have said so earnestly, ^‘May it bring a 
blessing on you but as she had the money she did nT 
trouble herself to go into the matter any deeper; and when 
she told her husband he was surprised at Walgrave’s 
generosity, and still more so when she spoke of his previous 
call, and how he had asked her not to mention it to him 
until he had ascertained for certain that the money was 
really for him; it would give him a pleasant surprise; and 
when he heard what kind of conversation had passed 
between Walgrave and his wife he knew how Waluravo had 
gotten his clew to trace his first wife. He must have gone 
to Smith, and by some clever maneuver made him reveal 
the plot by his looks or words dropped thoughtlessly; 
and, having put together what Mrs. Bridgewell had told 
him and what he had heard from Smith, he had guessed the 
rest. Then the letters — if it was he who got them — would 
have made his task easy; but without the letters it would 
have been almost impossible to find the asylum. Perhaps 
he had employed some one to get the letters from Penfold 
— and yet, how could he have known about such letters? 
He felt puzzled and he looked so thoughtful that his wife 
asked him if he was not pleased at her getting the two 
hundred pounds. 

^^Yes, yes, my dear, I am very pleased, and you may do 
whatever you wish with the money. I was only trying to 
think from whom it could have come.^’ 

^^0, if that ^s all,^’ said his wife, laughing, ^^donT 
trouble yourself; we have the money, and that^s the prin- 
cipal thing.^^ And the matter was allowed io droiy, though 
the lawyer often thought how small a clew’ will lead to 


So6 iiiss JioGQ 

big results in the hands of such men as Walgrave and 
Mathew. He learned later on that it was Mathew who had 
gotten the letters so cleverly from him; and yet he had 
thought Mathew dull — almost a fool. Why, he was equal 
to Walgrave; he could see no difference between them; 
they were the two cleverest men he had ever met. We 
certainly agree with him, and leave him to his reflections 
that it is always dangerous for people who live in glass 
houses to throw stones. 

Even if we don^t live in a glass house, we may have 
a skeleton in a closet, which we would be sorry to bring 
to light, perhaps not a skeleton of sin, but of sorrow 
so deep that it would make our hearts bleed afresh, and 
bring shame and disgrace on those long passed away, who 
were the cause of it. So let us close our closet and there 
let the skeleton rest, and allow our neighbors to do the 
same. Let us help, not injure, each other, and not discuss 
the faults of others through malice or for gain. Let our 
lives be so upright and honest in every sense of the word 
that we may not lead others to wrong doing; for we shall 
be answerable to God for the sins committed by others 
through our example or advice. So let us all watch and 
pray, for he that depends too much upon himself is sure 
to fail. 


Tm AMEtllCAl!^ 


5S? 


CHAPTER LXVII. 

On Mathew’s return to London he went to Walgrave’s 
hotel, and they had a great time recounting their ad- 
ventures while engaged in sifting the affair. When Wal- 
grave told Mathew how he had followed him to Waterloo 
Station, Mathew laughed heartily and replied, remem- 
ber seeing a tall, Jewish-looking fellow sneaking around 
the telegraph office to see what I was doing, but my mind 
was so b^usy with my own affairs that I only gave him one 
look; and it seems to come so natural for Jews to pry into 
their neighbors’ affairs that I was not surprised to see 
him try to get a look at what I was writing, but I took 
care he didn’t see. You see I never expected you to go 
on the same tack as myself. I did n’t think for a moment 
that you had discovered the first wife, since I had only 
done so by mere chance. However, I ’m glad the affair 
is settled, and that we did n’t fail as we have always done 
where Miss Hogg has been concerned. Perhaps her ap- 
proaching marriage has changed the current of affairs,” he 
added, laughingly ;• ffit will take a strong-minded man to 
manage her. What is to be her name ?” 

^^0,” replied Walgrave, ^^she will improve in regard to 
name — it is Russell. I must say that her love for her 
cousin has softened her nature ; you would n’t recognize 
her; she wants to see you before her departure.” 

shall be pleased to see her, for she is, without 
exception, the most clever and brave woman I ever met. 
Do you remember when she pulled off your false beard, Mr. 
Walgrave?” laughing heartily. 

^^Don’t mention it,” said Walgrave, with a smile; 
shall never forget it ; and to think that she had her foot on 
my badge all the time, and made use of it in Belgium !” 

^^But how came your badge to be on the floor ?” 

^Well, you see when she threw my gray beard at my 
feet with disgust, and exposed the bruised face which yon 
had given me, I felt ashamed and bent down to pick it' 
up, intending to put it on again, for my face was in a 


658 HIS^ HOOd 

terrible state, and I did n’t notice that the badge had 
slipped out of my breast pocket on to the carpet, for, of 
course it made no noise. She must have seen it, for I 
remember that she came closer to me as if the better to 
point her finger at me as she accused me to the hotel 
keeper of being a blackmailer ; yet, she would not have me 
arrested ; she was too clever to go that far. When I think 
of those times and look at her now I can hardly believe that 
she is the same woman. 0, you need not smile, it is no 
fancy of mine; you will admit it to be true when you see 
her.^^ 

‘^^Well, Mr. Walgrave, you must forgive me for smiling; 
so many strange things have happened in this case; we 
never had one like it before.^'’ 

^^You Ye right, Mathew, and it deserves to be recorded.^’ 

A week later Mathew was invited by Lady Montgomery 
to come to the farewell dinner that she was giving to Miss 
Hogg, who was to leave England in a few days, and desired 
to see him. She had asked Lady Montgomery to send the 
invitation, as she could not have invited him herself, 
having no chaperon ; though Miss Hogg said to herself, 
HtY all bosh; what harm indeed, if Mathew came to dine 
with me? .But I suppose that Lady Montgomery knows 
best, and I must try to please her.'’^ So the day before 
the dinner she left London with WalgYave, who had also 
been invited, old Mrs. Jerry going with them. 

^SStrange,’^ thought Miss Hogg, ^hio one seems to find 
fault with me for being attended by Mr. Walgrave where- 
ever I go — and I really feel, myself, that there is a differ- 
ence between him and Mathew, who has no friendship nor 
regard whatever for me; he would never have fallen in 
love with me; he has no heart; and but for WalgraveY 
coming to warn me in America he would have made trouble 
for me. Dear Walgrave ! he has a noble heart, and he is so 
refined and considerate in all he does. I am so pleased 
that Isabelle is his daughter and that he will be happy 
at the farm, with the Eussells so near him; they will 
just suit him. After all, his life will not be wrecked, as 
I had feared it would be.^^ All these thoughts came to her 
as the train was taking them to Cumberland. 

Lady Florence was first to welcome them ; she had been 
on the watch ever since the carriage had left the house 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


559 


to meet them at the station. Lady Montgomery received 
them with her usual calm dignity, and when Lady Florence 
had run away with Miss Hogg she said to Walgrave, ^^Lord 
Montgomery has returned from America, and though 
he has freely forgiven Miss Hogg for taking away his 
cousin he will not be here to-morrow at the farewell dinner ; 
he believes, and I agree with him, that his presence would 
be embarrassing to Miss Hogg. What do you think, Mr. 
Walgrave T’ 

‘^T think,’’ replied AValgrave, ^‘^that his lordship has 
acted with great consideration for Miss Hogg, for his 
presence could not have been other than embarrassing and 
painful to her, she not having seen him since he visited 
her in America.” • 

H am pleased, Mr. AValgrave, that you see it in the 
same light as my son and I ; and if I have mentioned the 
subject to you it is that should Miss Hogg feel hurt at 
liis seeming neglect you will be able to explain his motives 
to her.” 

certainly will do so. Lady Montgomery, should 
Miss Hogg remark on his absence; but, if I judge her 
aright she will be relieved at not being compelled to meet 
him. Does I^ady Florence know that his lordship is not 
coming ?” 

^^Ho, Mr. Walgrave, she has not been told; but I 
understand you, and I will let her know and she will be 
sure to mention it to Miss Hogg, and it will come with 
a better grace from her than from anyone else. I hope 
that Mr. Mathew will not say anytliing in reference to 
the past that will hurt her feelings, for I wish her to have 
a pleasant time with us ’that she will remember in the 
future. Lady Florence will miss her greatly; she has 
a deep affection for her; Miss Hogg must have good 
qualities to have won her love as she has done.” 

^^Yes, Lady Montgomery, she has a noble liKBart, and 
now that her mad freak is ended she appears in her true 
nature,” replied Walgrave with great feeling, for she was 
still very dear to him as a friend, and he felt pleased to 
hear her praised by a ’W'oman of Lady Montgomery’s 
standing. 

He told her all about his daughter Isabelle, and how 
pood Miss TTopg and ber mother had beep to He tol^ 


560 


MISS HOGG 


her that he was returning to America with Miss Hogg, and 
would live there with his daughter, so that she might not 
be separated from them, for they loved each other dearly, 
and it would be unjust to Mrs. Hogg, who had done so 
much for her, and who would be left alone now that her 
daughter was going to be married. 

Lady Montgomery was greatly surprised at the turn 
affairs had taken, and she said, ^^After all, the abduction 
of our Florence has borne good fruit ; without it, 
very likely you would never have found your daughter. 
The ways of God are grand and mysterious; they work 
for our good, though we may not see it at the time, and 
our crosses seem heavy to bear; still, if we put our trust 
in him, and pray^to him to give us strength to bear it, he 
will, in his own good time, send his Holy Spirit to bring 
peace and joy to our sore hearts. The Holy Ghost is simply 
a ray of light and joy coming straight from God to us, 
showing that he is pleased with us, and the peace he sends 
is infinite ; it fills our hearts with holy joy and contentment, 
if we would only listen to the thoughts and feelings they 
try to impart to us.^^ 

^^Do you really believe that the spirits of our departed 
ones come near us, as some people assert 

do; and if our love for them is great and we long 
to have them near us, they do certainly come and manifest 
their presence to us by signs that they are there — a feeling 
of joy, as if we still had them with us.^^ 

^AVell, Mr. Walgrave, I have never studied those 
mysteries much, so that I cannot argue with you. I always 
thought that when our dear ones had gone from us they 
were so happy in heaven that they lost all thought of us 
here below and could not even see us.^^ 

^Tjady Montgomery, I hope that you will not think me 
presumptuous if I say that your ideas are erroneous, and 
that our dear ones not only see us but would come back 
to us if they could, in some cases ; and they actually grieve 
when they see how we want them back and how heart- 
broken we are. Our great desire to have them back 
brings their spirits down to us in feelings, or visions, or 
dreams — and it is not all dreams. But here come the 
young people, and I ^m afraid that our conversation would 
not interest them,” 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 501 

Miss Hogg and Lady Florence came into the drawing- 
room looking the picture of health and happiness. 

That day passed very pleasantly for them all. Lady 
Montgomery spoke a kind word to her former maid, Mrs. 
Jerry, which brought back peace to the old woman’s heart, 
and Lady Montgomery advised her to see the steward in 
regard to her cottage, which had been let by him to a 
respectable workingman who had regularly paid his rent 
all these years; in fact he was willing to buy the cottage 
and garden for one hundred pounds. The widow was 
delighted, and could not thank Lady Montgomery enough ; 
but the latter replied, ^^You have to thank Johnson, the 
steward, not me; go at once and arrange matters with 
him.” Mrs. Jerry did so, and the business was soon 
settled; she received forty pounds for the five years’ rent, 
and in th© course of a week she would get one hundred 
pounds from the sale of her cottage. She was overjoyed; 
she had never had so much money in her possession in all 
her life before, and she longed to go back to her son and 
Katy to decide what should be done with it; it was a 
fortune; nothing less; such a lot of gold pieces; for she 
had insisted on having her money in gold, and she could 
not sufficiently admire her forty pounds. And to think 
that a hundred more would be added to it ! She could 
hardly believe it possible. 

The next day Mathew arrived, and also Lord Frankford 
— Lady Montgomery having invited the latter to lielp 
her to entertain the two detectives. It will be remembered 
that Lord Frankford had been arrested on the train 
for having abducted Lady Florence, while Miss Hogg had 
looked on and had seen him and his daughter marched 
off to the police station while she enjoyed the joke. Now 
they were tb meet she had the advantage of him, for she- 
had seen him, but to him she was a perfect stranger. 
When he was told by Lady Montgomery whom he was to 
meet at, the house he had accepted the invitation with 
pleasure and curiosity; he longed to see the lady who had 
checkmated the best Fmglish, French, and Belgian detec- 
tives, and was now on friendly terms with Lady Mont- 
gomery and the two detectives whom she had led such a 
dance. She must, indeed, be a clever woman; any other 
would have found herself in jail instead of being received 


562 


MISS HOGG 


as an honored guest by those whom she had so deeply 
wronged. 

Lord Frankford arrived before Mathew did. Kot hav- 
ing been expected so early, the carriage had not been sent 
to meet him; so he had to take a cab, which he dismissed 
at the lodge gate, and walked down the avenue. Hearing 
a merry laugh in one of the summerhouses, lie approached 
it, looked in, and saw two ladies and a gentleman who 
seemed to be having a good time, for another peal of 
laughter met his ears as he stood at the entrance to the 
summerhouse with the roses in full bloom all around him. 
The elder of the two ladies seemed to have provoked the 
merriment of the younger lady and the gentleman by 
some witty remark, and she herself was laughing heartily. 

H beg pardon for intruding,'^ said his lordship, raising 
his hat and bowing politely to the three. ^m Lord 
Frankford, and I suppose that, like myself, you are invited 
guests to pay honor to that clever young woman. Miss 
Hogg.- 

Walgrave’s eyes flashed, and he was about to speak, 
when Miss Hogg, for it was she, placed her hand on his 
arm to silence him, and, rising from her seat, she said with 
a smile, ^^You are not intruding. Lord Frankford; we shall 
be pleased to have your company; we are guests of Lady 
Montgomery, except this young lady, who is Lady Florence. 
We were just laughing at Miss Hogg’s queer doings.” 

^Tjady Florence,” repeated Lord Frankford ; ^Vhy, 
I did not recognize you ;”, shaking her hand and taking a 
* seat by her side; ^^you have grown wonderfully; you are 
quite a young lady; you have an air of savoir-faire quite 
astonishing for your age; that young American woman 
cannot have shut you up all the time with the wild 
Indians.” * 

Lady Florence looked up at Miss Hogg, in distress, 
and would have spoken but for a look from Miss Hogg 
herself, who seemed to enjoy her new position immensely. 
So Lady Florence only said, ^^Miss Hogg has been ver^/ 
kind to me, my lord, and I love her dearly.” 

^AVell, my child, I will not say another word against 
her in your presence.” 

Miss Hogg laughed merrily, and made up her mind to 
^iscnss Miss Hogg with the old lord; and Walgrave, guess'^ 




663 


ing her intention^ rose^ saying, ^^Lady Florence and I love 
Miss Hogg too well to listen to anything derogatory to her ; 
so, with your permission,^^ bowdng to the old lord and Miss 
Hogg, ^Sve will retire/^ 

Lady Florence saw that Mamie was up to some of her 
tricks and meant to fool the old gentleman and make him 
feel very uncomfortable by and by. Walgrave felt that he 
could not, with honor, stay and listen. He knew that 
Lady Florence could not bear to hear anyone speak ill of 
Miss Hogg ; so he had offered her his arm and they walked 
in the garden for sometime, and then returned to the 
house ; they had become great friends — Lady Florence and 
Walgrave. 

As soon as they had left the summerhouse Lord Frank- 
ford said, ^^Madam, your husband seems favorably dis- 
posed towards Miss Hogg, and from what I have heard, she 
is a designing creature. You are not afraid to trust him 
with her? Suppose she were to gain his affection, what 
then, madam 

^m afraid. Lord Frankford, that your well meant 
warning has come too late ; they are very fond of each other 
already.^^ 

^^And you allow that?^^ 

^^Why not? Whereas the harm?^^ 

The old lord looked at her in astonishment and met 
her meriy eyes; he saw at a glance that she was laughing 
at him. 

wish I knew her name,^^ thought the old lord ; ^‘^she ^s 
a fine woman, and of a very merry turn of mind;^^ so he 
said, ^^Since we are the guests of Lady Montgomery I think 
we ought to know each other by name. You know mine : 
have you any objection to telling me yours ?^^ 

the leasV^ replied Miss Hogg; ^^first of all, 
I am not the wife of the gentleman who has just left us; 
I am not a married lady, and my name is — well, on second 
thought I think I had rather wait until Lady Montgomery 
introduces us, with your kind permission. Lord Frank- 
ford. 

^^Certainly, my dear young lady; shall we follow the 
example of the lady and gentleman who have just left 
us, and also take a walk in the garden?’^ 

^^With pleasure, said Miss Hogg, taking his proffered 


564 


MISS MOGd 


arm ; ^ Ve can discuss this forward young American woman 
as well in the garden as in the summerhouse/^ 

‘^^Certainl}^^ madam ; have you seen her 
^^0, yes, and have often been ashamed of her. I can^t 
understand how Lady Montgomery could forgive her/^ 

^^0^ then I see you don’t like her; she must be a boor; 
she must be very vulgar ;” and he smiled at Miss Hogg, who 
burst into a laugh, saying: 

^^You will soon see for yourself, my lord, and I shall 
expect you to give me your candid opinion of her.” 

^^Yes, 1 shall certainly do so; I am curious to see her. 
I have been told that she had outwitted all the detectives; 
if she did so she is clever.” 

^^0, all mere chance ; nothing more ;” said Miss Hogg ; 
but seeing the carriage coming down the avenue and know- 
ing that Mathew was in it, and that he would recognize 
her, she said, ‘^‘^You must excuse me. Lord Frankford, if I 
leave you now; we shall meet again at dinner, and enjoy 
the company of that elegant and refined Miss Hogg,” 
laughing merrily. 

you will be there, madam, to counterbalance the 
vulgarity of the American woman I am willing to endure 
whatever she may impose upon me ;” pressing Miss Hogg’s 
liand, which he had retained ; and as she drew it away with 
a smile, he raised his hat and she hurried to the house, 
entering by a side door to avoid meeting Mathew as he 
got out of the carriage. 

She ran upstairs, and with Mrs. Jerry’s help, began to 
dress elaborately for the dinner party, for she wanted to 
make a good impression on Mathew, and she promised 
herself to be on her guard and behave as much like a 
lady as she possibly could, for she knew that it would 
please Lady Montgomery. Her dress was of rich, mauve- 
colored satin with white lace; a diamond necklace was 
around her strong, white throat; diamond drops in her 
ears and diamond bracelets on her arms; a beautiful 
white camellia on her breast and one in her hair, which 
was her chief beauty — it was so black and abundant. Mrs. 
Jerry had certainly done her duty by her and shown that 
she had not forgotten how to dress a lady to the best 
advantage. Miss Hogg, in her present attire, looked as 
ladylike as it was possible for her to do. 


565 


AMilRldA^r Hl^lRliSS 

Lady Florence came to her dressed in white silk^ with 
blue ribbons ; and a pearl necklace was her only ornament ; 
her golden hair fell to her waist in curls. As she saw 
Miss Hogg she exclaimed^ Mamie^ you look grand in 
that dress 

‘‘1 ^m glad you think so, dear/^ replied Miss Hogg, 
kissing her affectionately. ^‘^This is my last day with 
you, but don^’t let us look sad,^^ she added, as she saw a 
tear in the child’s eyes; ^det us be happy. We are going 
to have some fun presently. You watch when Lord Frank- 
ford is introduced to me. 0, my heart, but wonH he look 
blank r 

^^0, but Mamie, that was too bad of you ! Did he say 
anything very bad about you?’’ 

^^Hot a bit more than I deserve, my dear; but what 
amused me is that he paid me so many compliments ; and 
he is to tell me, after dinner, what he really thinks of 
Miss Hogg ;” and she laughed merrily. ^‘But we had better 
go down,” she added, ^^for I hear the second bell.” 

So they went down the grand staircase and entered the 
drawing-room, where they found Lady Montgomery dressed 
in blaclc satin, with ruby ornaments, looking grand and 
noble. She was conversing with Lord Frankford, while 
Walgrave and Mathew, a little way off, were discussing 
something that seemed to be very interesting to both. 

They all looked up as the two ladies made their 
appearance — Walgrave, with pleasure depicted on his 
countenance, and Mathew with a start of surprise. Was 
that lady Miss Hogg, who had played them so many 
tricks, and had pull^ Walgrave’s beard off his face? He 
could hardly believe his eyes. She felt pleased to see his 
surprise; he was paying her a great compliment against 
his will ; and as he looked at her he read merriment and 
mockery in her fine black eyes. Then Lady Montgomery 
and the gentlemen having risen from their seats. Lady 
Montgomery said to Lord Frankford, who was all smiles as 
he recognized the lady he had met in the summerhouse, 
^^Lord Frankford, allow me to present the lady whom you 
have been invited to meet at our farewell dinner, which is 
given in her honor.” 

^Aliss Hogg, Lord Frankford, my dear.” 

The shock was terrible to the old lord, who prided him- 


MISS Hoaa 


506 

self on being the essence of politeness to ladies; and to 
have insulted Miss Hogg to her face^ as he had done ! The 
smile left his face, the extended hand dropped to his 
side; he looked the picture of embarrassment. 

Miss Hogg was delighted, and had hard work to keep 
from laughing her regular loud American laugh. 

Lady Montgomery looked pained, and said, ^^Lord 
Frankford, Miss Hogg is a dear friend of ours.^^ 

The old lord recovered himself in a moment, and said, 
‘^^Lady Montgomery, you mistake me and the smile 
returned to his face as he extended his hand to Miss Hogg, 
saying, ^Aladam, I hope you will forgive me for saying 
what I did of a supposed absent lady, in consideration of 
the respect and admiration I showed to the one who was 
present, which I sincerely repeat, knowing her to be Miss 
Hogg. Will you take my hand as a sign of forgiveness, 
and accept my friendship 

was to blame, not you/’ said she laughing; and the 
old lord also laughed 

Lady Montgomery looked from one to the other, quite 
puzzled at this new mode of accepting an introduction; 
but Miss Hogg soon enlightened her, and she smiled, say- 
ing, ^^My dear, you are still very mischievous, but you must 
admit that Lord Frankford, through his gallantry to the 
fair sex, has come out of this really embarrassing situation 
with flying colors.” Turning towards Mathew, she said, 
smiling at Miss Hogg, ^^You hardly need an introduction 
to this gentleman.” 

^^Hardly,” said Miss Hogg, mischievously, extending 
her hand to Mathew, who took it with a show of respect 
and admiration for this clever woman that could hardly 
have been expected from him. She certainly had risen 
in his opinion. Walgrave was right; she had changed 
greatly, and really had a soft look in her fine black eyes 
that was not there when she had made him run after her 
cab. She was no longer the same Miss Hogg, but a very 
superior one; and he felt as the old lord did, that he would 
never dare express himself about her in her presence 
as he had often done in her absence. He said to Miss 
Hogg that he felt honored to have been invited by Lady 
Montgomery to meet her, and that it gave him great 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 567 

pleasure to be able to pay his respects to her before her 
departure for America. 

Just then dinner was announced, and Lady Montgomery 
said, ^^Lord Frankford will take Miss Hogg in to dinner; 
you, Mr. Mathew, will take Lady Florence and she, her- 
self, placed her hand on Walgrave^s arm. Mathew flushed 
with pleasure, and bowing low to Lady Florence, to whom 
he had been duly introduced, he offered her his arm. 

The dinner passed off pleasantly. Lord Frankford and 
Miss Hogg had a grand time; he was a merry old lord, 
and Miss Hogg was quick at repartee, often turning the 
tables on him. Mathew did not say much but watched, 
and listened to Miss Hogg, and thought, ^‘^Ho ivonder she 
outwitted us ; what a quick brain she has ! I hardly 
wonder at Walgrave falling in love with her. She has 
what is better than beauty — brain and good judgment; 
and I must admit that she is a fine woman, and, I believe, 
good natured. There now; I think that is a great deal 
for me to say of Miss Hogg after the dance she has led 
me these last five years and more.^^ 

Lady Florence enjoyed the jokes so well parried by 
Miss Hogg, and was pleased that Mamie was getting the 
best of Lord Frankford, who enjoyed it immensely him- 
self, never losing his temper. As for Lady Montgomery, 
she was happy to see how well Miss Hogg behaved, for 
though she was a little more free and merry than English 
ladies are in general, still there was nothing outre in her 
conduct. Her travels had greatly improved her, and no 
one could have found fault with her. 

Lady Montgomery had not invited any of her ov/n 
friends to meet Miss Hogg except Lord Frankford; she 
had no wish to make her an object of curiosity as she would 
have become had she done so. Walgrave felt proud of 
her, for somehow she seemed to be partly his property — 
so many strange events had drawn them together, and his 
own daughter, loved and cared for by her, seemed to make 
a kind of relationship betv/een them. 

Late that evening Mathew took his departure, after 
having had a private talk with Miss Hogg, during which 
she said, ^^Mr. Mathew, I have caused you much trouble and 
disappointment these last five years. Have yoii no bitter 
feelings towards 


568 


MISS HOGG 


Miss Hogg ; those feelings are of the past. Know- 
ing you as I do now, I say sincerely that I am pleased that 
you escaped us as you did ; that you are the cleverest woman 
that I ever met, and that I no longer wonder that Mr. 
Walgrave fell so deeply in love with you as he did.^^ 

^^Thank you, Mr. Mathew,^^ said Miss Hogg; shall 
never forgive myself. As far as Mr. Walgrave is concerned 
I treated him shamefully, and it is he who has brought 
peace and happiness into my life; he is a noble-hearted 
man. I am so glad that I can, in return, give him a 
daughter who, I hope, will repay him with her love and 
care for the wrong I did him;^^ and her eyes filled with 
tears as she said these words. Mathew looked in wonder 
at Miss Hogg; she had a heart, after all; and he admired 
her more and more. He felt that he too could love such a 
wonian if he were free; she was a dangerous woman in 
more senses than one. She gave him her hand at parting, 
and he raised it to his lips, a thing he had never done 
to any woman before. She left a small parcel on his hands, 
saying, ‘^^Take this in remembrance of me and our strange 
adventures.’^ He thanked her, and wishing her a pleasant 
and a happy voyage, he took his departure. On his arrival in 
London he opened the parcel and found two fifty pound 
notes and a diamond ring worth almost as much; so that 
after all he had not lost all his time running after Miss 
Hogg, for whom he now had a great liking; and he often 
said, when alone, don’t wonder that Walgrave loves her; 
I would have done the same thing if I had been free, know- 
ing her as I do now.” 

He never mentioned Miss Hogg to his wife, but he often 
thought of her and her clever doings, even after he became 
an old gray-headed man. He kept up a correspondence 
with Walgrave and often heard of her. Here we will say 
good-by to Mathew and drop one of our most interesting 
and clever friends. 

Walgrave returned to his cottage the day after the 
dinner, taking with him the best wishes of Lady Mont- 
gomery and Lady Florence for his future happiness, and 
a small casket for his daughter Isabelle, which was not 
to be opened by anyone but herself. 

Miss Hogg remained a day longer at Lady Mont- 
gomery’s, ^nd when they parted her ladyship placed a 


AMBRlOAir HRIRES^ ^69 

small parcel in her hand, saying, ^^This is a present from 
my son. Lord Montgomery, in token of his good will 
toward you/^ 

Miss Hogg flushed as she took it, and said, ^^Lady 
Montgomery, thank his lordship for me, and tell him that 
I never knew what love was before I saw my cousin Tom 
Eussell/^ 

know, my dear,^^ answered Lady Montgomery, ^^and 
you need not blush ; he never suspected you of loving him, 
and he joins with me in wishing you all manner of happi- 
ness and prosperity with Mr. Eussell; and he hopes that 
should you visit England you will both accept our invitation 
to pass some time with us.^^ 

Miss Hogg accepted the invitation so kindly given; 
and as for Lady Florence, she threw herself in Miss Hogg^s 
arms and kissed her affectionately, and her cheeks, as 
well as Miss Hogg's, were wet with tears as they parted, 
with promises on both sides, to correspond. 

Lady Florence felt the parting with her old nurse, Mrs. 
Jerry, and she gave her a purse containing ten bright 
sovereigns. Miss Hogg and Mrs. Jerry left for London, 
and Miss Hogg, having completed her arrangements for 
her return to America, she sent orders to the florist for 
a basket of his best flowers for the next day, and as soon 
as she received them she left for Southampton, accom- 
panied by Mrs. Jerry, who carried the flowers. On their 
arrival they were met by Walgrave at the station, he having 
been apprised of Miss Hogg’s coming by a letter which she 
sent the day before. He had a carriage in waiting and 
they were soon on the way to his cottage, and once more 
Miss Hogg found herself under Walgrave’s roof. A good 
dinner had been provided in her honor, to which she 
did full justice. 

They discussed their departure; in two days they 
would leave England, and though they would leave dear 
friends behind, they were going to meet still dearer ones 
on the other side. They talked so long that the sun was 
setting before they had thought of rising from the table. 
Miss Hogg looked at the beautiful sunset, and said, as she 
rose, pointing to the basket of flowers, ^^My friend, you 
guess for whom I have brought these.’^ 

do. Miss Hogg, and I am ready to take you there 


MISS HOGG 


since you have proposed it. I would never have dared to 
ask you, but I feel deeply grateful. Shall we go now 

^^Yes, Mr. Walgrave;^^ and they left the house, Wal- 
grave carrying the basket of flowers in his right hand, 
while he gave Miss Hogg his left arm; and they walked 
away toward the little church. 

Mrs. Jerry and the housekeeper looked after them, the 
housekeeper saying, ^^They are going to the graveyard. 
Mr. Walgrave has had a splendid monument erected to 
the memory of his young wife; you and I will go and see 
it when they come back.^^ 

Yes; Miss Hogg was taking flowers to ornament the 
grave of Isabelle^s mother, b^efore her departure for 
America. Walgrave was sad and solemn, and yet pleased 
that Miss Hogg should show respect to his young wife. 
The monument was of fine red granite beautifully carved 
and enclosed in plain iron railings, supported by four 
granite pillars. Miss Hogg knelt and arranged the flowers 
all about the grave in the most tasteful way; then bowing 
her head on the grave, she prayed for some time, her tears 
falling on the flowers, as she thought of the young wife 
cut down in such a terrible manner, and how strange it 
was that she should be the chosen one to bring up the 
child of this unfortunate lady. She saw the finger of 
God in all this. She had become so engrossed with her 
sad thoughts that she had forgotten Walgrave until she 
heard a sob; and, looking up, she saw him with his face 
against the monument, his frame shaking with emotion. 
She rose to her feet and said, ^^Mr. Walgrave, though the 
remains of your wife rest here, her spirit will follow us 
wherever we go; in fact, she has been guiding our steps 
these years past, unknown to us, it is true; still, the fact 
remains the same. She left dear Isabelle to be your con- 
solation some day; she guided me in my choice of her; 
she brought you and me together so that one day the 
truth might be revealed to you; though the shock has 
been great for you still you have much for which to rejoice ; 
she has sent you a precious gift from the grave, you may 
say; had she been drowned, as you believed, you would 
be a lonely man this day, and I a very unhappy woman; 
for after wronging you as I did I should be powerless to 
partially undo the wrong I did you.^^ 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


571 


•^You are right/^ replied Walgrave, trying to calm him- 
self; ^^you have joined hands with my dear young wife 
to bring me peace and joy, and I am thankful to you both 
who are so dear to me;^^ and he held out his hand to Miss 
Hogg across the grave. Miss Hogg, in accepting his hand, 
felt that she was not wronging the one resting there, for 
she had never loved Walgrave, nor did he love her now as 
he had done some years before; even now, as they stood 
hand in hand, the grave was between them; Walgrave felt 
it ; his wife’s grave had cured him of his mad love for Miss 
Hogg; she was dear to him as a friend, a relation, but 
nothing more. They both knelt and prayed with their 
hands clasped ; it was their farewell to that dear one ; they 
seemed to be promising eternal friendship with that grave 
between them, which they were never again to see. They 
rose to go. Miss Hogg took up one. of the beautiful white 
roses and gave it in silence to Walgrave, who silently ac- 
cepted it; then he offered her his arm and they left the 
cemetery to return to the house, where Miss Hogg remained 
until the next day, when she returned with Mrs. Jerry to 
London, where Walgrave was to meet her a day later, 
when they were to take their departure for Liverpool. 

Walgrave arranged with James Gray and his wife to 
attend to the grave and keep it in order, gave up the lease 
of his cottage and discharged his housekeeper; in fact, 
settled his business; as he was not likely to ever return. 
Carlo was to go wtfli his master to America. Having 
completed his arrangements, he joined Miss Hogg; they 
were soon on their way to Liverpool, and the next day they 
left for America. 

Miss Hogg was in high spirits at the thought of soon 
seeing Tom. The time had seemed long to her and to him 
too, if she could believe his loving letters, of which she 
had about a dozen. Isabelle had also written her father 
some very loving letters ; but she wrote to Miss Hogg that 
it would seem very strange to call Mr. Walgrave papa; she 
had never even had a good look at him. When he came 
to the farm she had remarked that he was tall, dark, 
and sad looking; was it because he had lost her? Had 
some one stolen her away from him while she was a babv. 
and was that the cause of his sadness? If so, she would 
love him very much; she would try to do so. She closed 


572 


MISS HOGO 


by saying, ^^When is he coming back, and you, too, Mamie ? 
I miss you so much ; do come back and bring my papa with 
you; I long to see you both/^ Isabelle^s letters were very 
long and full of inquiries, for, of course, she had not been 
told in detail how it had been found out that she was 
Mr. Walgrave^s daughter; she had simply been told the 
facts, and that her mother was dead. She was too young 
to understand the terrible tragedy of her mother’s death, 
and under what strange circumstances she had first seen 
the light. 


THE AUmiQA^ HEIRESS 


573 


CHAPTEK LXVIII. 

In due time Miss Hogg and Mr. Walgrave arrived in 
Xew York, nothing unusual having occurred during the 
voyage. It had been arranged that Miss Hogg should 
go direct to her home in Fifth Avenue, while Walgrave 
would proceed to the farm, where Isabelle was waiting for 
him. It was thought best that the first meeting should 
take place there, for Walgrave^s recollections of Mr. Hogg’s 
mansion would necessarily have been painful; so when 
the steamer reached Hew York they parted. Miss Hogg 
promising to visit them at the farm in the course of a 
week. Tom and Mrs. Hogg were on the pier to receive 
them, and Miss Hogg felt happy as she saw the joy and 
happiness beaming on Tom’s face at the sight of her. 
As she bade Walgrave good-by she pressed his hand and 
said with emotion, ^^How I thank you, my friend, for the 
life of happiness I see before me ! it is your work. May 
you, too, be truly happy some day ! Kiss dear Isabelle for 
me ; I will soon go down to the farm.” 

Tom had shaken hands with Walgrave in a hearty 
manner, thanking him for having brought back his Mamie 
safe, and saying, ^^You will soon have to come back to 
Hew York, Mr. Walgrave, for I mean to have my marriage 
take place in less than a month; I have waited long 
enough.” 

^^Come, come,” said Miss Hogg, laughing, ^^don’t be 
too sure; perhaps Mr. Walgrave and I will go for another 
trip, who knows?” 

^‘^Don’t notice her,” said her mother; ^^she will be 
just as pleased to get married in a month as you will be.” 

"^^0, my heart, ma, but you put it strong,” said Mamie, 
blushing. 

^‘^Well, my dear, why have you brought that grand 
wedding dress if not to wear it?” 

Tom laughingly placed Mamie’s hand on his arm and 
leading her to the carriage, whispered lovingly, Hs it no^ 


574 


MISS HOGG 


true, my love ? I have missed you so much that I cannot 
part from you again/^ 

^^Yes, dear Tom, I am happy to be with you once more ; 
the time has been long to me too; I feel truly happy; I 
have nothing to wish for; nothing could add to my 
happiness/^ He pressed her hand and they entered the 
carriage. 

Mr. Walgrave helped Mrs. Hogg in, saw them depart, 
and their happy faces sent peace and joy into his heart and 
a smile of satisfaction to his face, for this was his work; 
and he murmured, as he entered his own carriage, ^for- 
giveness brings more joy than revenge. How beautifully 
everything has turned out ! Now for my own dear Isabelle, 
my dear young wife^s precious gift.^^ 

He went to the railway station, and in due time arrived 
at Jefferson City. Jerry was there waiting, having been 
apprised of his arrival by Tom. Walgrave inquired about 
his daughter and was told that she would have come to meet 
him, but that Katy had persuaded her not to do so, as she 
thought it better that the first meeting should take place 
at the farm rather than at the station, as she feared that 
it would be trying for both father and daughter; and Wal- 
grave approved of Kat/s forethought. 

As the carriage stopped at the gate the door opened; 
Isabelle came running out and seemed on the point of 
rushing into her father’s arms; but she suddenly stopped 
short and looked up at him shyly. Walgrave’s emotion 
was great as he drew her to him and kissed her, holding 
her in his arms in a loving embrace, tears of joy and 
sorrow moistening his cheeks as he thought of his young 
wife, for Isabelle was the image of her mother. She felt 
the tears fall on her face and her young heart went over to 
her father. Throwing her arms around his neck, she said, 
^^0, dear papa, don’t cry; I love you already, and will try 
to make ^nu happy; you shall not lose me again.” Her 
shyness was all gone; she spoke to him as if she had 
never been parted from him, for she had no idea that he 
had never seen her when she was a baby. 

Walgrave, recovering himself, said, ^^You are right, 
my darling, you shall never lose me; we are going to be 
all in all to each other;” and they walked into the house, 
iBabelle feeling proud of her handsome papa. 


!tHl3 AMERICAN HEIRESS 

Carlo followed his master with a sad look, for he 
seemed forgotten; but as Isabelle was on the point of 
closing the door she saw the dog, and exclaimed, ^^0, papa, 
is that your dog ? How large and beautiful he is !'^ 

^^Yes, my dear, and I had almost forgotten my poor 
Carlo; come here, old fellow, and get acquainted with 
your new mistress/^ 

The dog wagged his tail and jumped around his master, 
pleased at being noticed. He made friends with Isa- 
belle at once, and he was allowed in the dining room 
for that evening. Mary Eussell was there to help to 
entertain Walgrave. He v/as pleased to see her, and told 
her that it was kind and considerate of her to come. 

Dinner was soon served ; it was a real English dinner, 
and had been prepared by Mary herself; still, Walgrave did 
not do justice to it and he apologized for his want of 
appetite. Mary said she understood his feelings and per- 
haps he would have preferred to be alone with Isabelle. 
Walgrave looked pained, and replied, ^^Ho, Miss Eussell, 
your presence has been a great relief to me and to my 
dear daughter too, I am quite certain.^^ 

^^You are right, papa, I would have been afraid to meet 
you all alone ; it was all so strange to me.^^ 

^^0, that feeling will soon pass away,^^ said Mary, 
smiling. 

^^Yes, Miss Eussell, we shall soon get accustomed to 
each other. I have not yet inquired about your family ; it 
is quite unpardonable on my part.'’’ 

^^They are all quite well, Mr. Walgrave, and, with 
your permission will call to see you this evening. I think 
I hear J ohn already.” 

shall feel honored. Miss Eussell; and I cannot 
thank you enough for your kindness to my daughter and 
myself.” 

^Tt has been a pleasure to us, Mr. Walgrave,” replied 
Mary. 

Isabelle, on hearing John, had left the room, and soon 
returned holding him by the hand ; she introduced him to 
her father as her playmate. ‘'^We have lots of fun to- 
gether,” she said, while John blushed like a girl. Mr. and 
Mrs. Eussell soon came in with Julia, and a happy evening 
was spent; they all felt at home with each other, and as 


MISS nom 


576 

if they had known one another for years. Mr. Walgrave 
felt peace return to his heart and saw that he could be 
happy yet — that he had reached the silver lining of his 
dark cloud. When the Eussells left him, asking him to 
come to Eussell farm the next evening to see the old people, 
who longed to welcome Isabelle^s father, he accepted the 
invitation with pleasure. As for Isabelle, she was quite at 
home with the Eussells; just like one of themselves; she 
went back and forth from one farm to the other with 
perfect freedom, and Walgrave soon became a frequent 
visitor at Eussell farm. The old people could never have 
enough of his company; they loved to talk about England 
together, for the old country was still dear to them. 

It had been arranged that Mrs. Jerry would remain at 
the farm as Walgrave’s housekeeper, and her money be 
placed at interest, and that a cottage would be built for 
Jerry and his wife, who were to manage the farm for Mr. 
Walgrave, at a good salary. 

Poor Katy was happy at last ; no more fear of discovery, 
but peace and comfort all around. She had the greatest 
respect for Walgrave and often said to her husband, 
^^What a good man he is ! How forgiving he has been and 
what happiness he has brought to all of us ! And to think 
that the child that Mamie chose to mystify him and others 
has turned out to be his daughter ! I am so glad ! Thanks 
be to God for that ! x\nd how beautiful she is, though 
not like her father one bit, for she is fair, and he is so dark, 
but quite as handsome in his style. And I declare that 
he is looking much younger than he was last year when he 
gave us such a fright by coming so unexpectedly to the 
farm. They ^re very fond of him at Eussell farm,^^ and 
she added in a whisper, H should nT wonder if in a year 
or tw^o we were to have a wedding.^^ 

^AVhat do you mean asked Jerry ; canT make you 
out, Katy.^^ 

H mean between Mr. Walgrave and Miss Mary Eus- 
sell.^^ 

^^0, what nonsense ! You women always see love and 
marriage if you happen to see people smile at each other.^^ 

^^Ho, Jerry, no; youM see. Mary Eussell always 
admired Mr. Walgrave from the time he came to ask for 
Mamie, and she said he was the handsomest man she had 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


577 


ever seen, he looked so frank and noble ; and now when he 
talks to her there is a look of happiness in her bright face, 
which, to me, is love ; though she may not know it herself, 
I do; Mr. Walgrave likes her company, you can see that 
yourself; and Isabelle is very fond of Miss Eussell and 
would welcome her as her mamma. If a suitor appeared 
for Miss Mary, Mr. Walgrave would soon discover that 
he could n’t spare her ; that would open his eyes.” 

^^But she is so young compared with him,” remarked 
Jerry. 

younger than Mamie; they are the same age; 
and I ’m sure that Mr. Walgrave does n’t look old now 
that he ’s happy ; and, though he has gray hair, he can’t 
be called an old man.” 

no, certainly not, and perhaps you’re right; but 
do keep your mouth shut or you might do mischief.” 

^^Of course, Jerry, it is only to you that I would dare 
talk about such a thing ; but you ’ll see that I ’m right.” 

Mamie had come to the farm and invited every one to 
come to her wedding. Mary and Julia were to be brides- 
maids. Mr. Walgrave was asked by Tom and Mamie to be 
best man, but he refused, saying that he wished them all 
the happiness that human beings could find in this world, 
but that he would not attend the wedding; he thought it 
would be best not to do so; he wished the past to be 
forgotten, and his presence would be sure to cast a shadow 
in some way or other. Mr. Hogg would be sure to say 
something if he saw him there, and it would make it 
unpleasant for all concerned. They could but agree with 
him in the light in which he had put it. Miss Hogg’s eyes 
filled with tears as she pressed his hand, saying, ^^0, it ’s 
all my doing ; I ’m so sorry !” 

^^Don’t say another word. Miss Hogg, unless you wish 
to pain me. Our dear Isabelle will represent me there 
as your youngest bridesmaid.” 

^^Here, Isabelle,” he continued, calling to his daughter; 
^^come, my dear, and show Miss Hogg Lady Montgomery’s 
present.” 

Isabelle came in, all smiles, with the casket in her 
hands, and opening it she said, ^^Look, Mamie, what do 
you think of these pearls? I’m to wear them at your 
wedding,” 


• » o 


^SI3l¥^8S.*;«fflJA 2HT 


Oil !9}S.(feef*ia5iJ4b?9yoi<¥>fc,b)J^3toe® 

^SHf 10 liooi s 8X oisdJ toil od adlai 

|p^ % t^sa5L|qpc)}yi^il'tp,,,M Rut/iatuWtefMt 


Dixir-n-^.6^ l9a-inoY 

*y%l;j$aseiFe ,I^lf|^ hMools^dbM^ 

I>P,a»l|iai?rl ^il'Pi-ifei 

iveatit ierlj ;iOii.o-i£q8 fnblpoo sx! 

i:o^i^w^Yofk; ’{liey did not* reel equal'to the fatigue-pxbdt 

lW®M“'^#4#-80n37 - - 

2l£F„ Tpr^f’3'e.;>>wttijig 9feWi|iofiiaq§n?! ;lhtgrcfltd§;i|^ 

f] Bbgg’s wi^jl3fjiT^|o‘t& WKEfegel 


"CMi&cli f lt%as ] 

oliben 

^pflrtiuWrt he 

%%% SPW^^^^vyiHRg.inan id,, the wprjj^y ,#ia,dj( pre^ppfc 
pfedijet£^,|hat[^.a,i;eY theTe,-F0J4l,^,|^Qii^ppther gJM^i 
'44i, qthq ' 14iu$sell ■ £ain,jly i 'Ij^O'^fSeya / oTrOJd^f 
paj.|n|y;^'jijst^slhik, W^rrofth, .llqmiejiithppgh^ 
.i9pT^^;iCT^p4,|Wjili4h,erlijor^ojqrjipadej4feg^;,<>f;;wh|t|^^^ 
lape^, ihp,^,ribi)phs|^P9papgp,:W ,apd(-,jfi3^ti,^, 

-'-i-q;ygib^ .Brgsspls^iwljiql ,pf^toftyiS'l[ 



s^;Stood at the altgrq|)y,thfr st^p, 9f.,hqTo<?ftdsift TWjtand 
hdw jher/heqrl heat i^th I'pyltQ ; think th^t hexS^aflih^ra! 
for life ; ‘tna’f nobl6 and handsoiiie, pan; -liyiho iovhd)h®fi Wth'; 
pptifeeti^ft^oh 



’' h® Ihl'^d; ,TOi;|!ect^¥ Ipflgl,yi}..38q)ltett;r^d ' 
® thhithcb’e^ I Wd.iJDdj pi«5fe4a?’l5f,MhG ,'^flrl 
with 'd'a|i;)c I'^e^^ipg fpR ffa,jr dBStijI^o HiPlfl tha^ 


bfide.TOahds ^hfia^ the Rfiqe ! I^ot one of thep wcp^ihaiTf ./ 


occn ^^lv. 085 

THE AMERICAK HEIRESS , 579 

ni hois'naJpi ioal jcni Bib ao buiail Joii Bjirl oil Boiii tolni oi 
refused him; he was the handsomest man thgJ3g<jnxIlyi$Ji 

,f^evPSafll#.;:5'5iitt|., ;3hepgep.Jip?t tfi 

h^r 'friends, aSjtiOoy^p, Jte;(Wflp-rTTfedid w.haiiiajgUjpoI bluow 

fefiPtheE^fliigfiaijH there 
■s^nd hjs iajihpi^gnd.jippjhe^;;”; aidie^YfiTy pe^lhfeijjtfnadjmit 
that;thp ^us^Jls,rwre 5 P ,8 hstisdiom.pdairtilyi'yicM no riauld 
, $hj§ .yjgddijig . •.wmibvpCv i : :Tlh'eMbdhatl obeps-ihD 
weeping on the part abtih^iferideb slieubaditaJiswieiBedrjdl 
.w^iy’ heT(;yioiwg .husband’s 

loving Ipohp [j\y;^,j'pqii;aJJyY Ipjring oOjiesitlshe ijtrnsbeii .teitL 
8 p^;irf Iv;, I ubdi*. , 9 ^. ^hsgr- dPft th® •;Phtuchi .<ljOgi^theri 1 thegri Bvere 
gqpd, i^p/^ooh j?,t,,,..,g§;iallii35iefKl3! 'imrried. Wuplesi ftughtdtoi.hQ. 
Tji^j lojp.d an 4 ,ii^?u§t^ ^ph;i<5ihiei:in,.W«bateKeiB(ih!a'Pheied 
^,ldie,fuiprejii|hpi?iidy^!WWu^d >4ie«eriehaUg^ Xi mill obr.ni 
.,,.';,|dr.. ijpggii pMft’)^ioigi»nl)i.diniter"dniohdnpBi pfoMU 
'daggh|ep^^j(i 5 eddipg;; ihdh ;tfee:iyo,ungi ma«ried edilpteuleft 
f/?fc .•tk4yiohs4i.'&gteedi;tojispe!fi& thsk 

honeymoon; after wMph.:J^fiyfcffi^.tP!)yetuirn;toilHe;r)ihiotlsi(l 
jjti,,Cl 5 i^,.gyep}ji§, argo^ypi,- |if|;tfc,.ha'Yingi¥ai,(3i j^/ visit 
to Jj^he ^sspJi%jj%pd.i,yafgjraye\(^!.,IsateJla:.!ahdirijhd 

Euaaeil|getppp^doi^j^rihi^n?,pSiitJpe^ thei iweddiqg^ 

Tprpi’s ,j3^rtggroacppi5VP9pyiag fctjhplhvOBmtheiiDiiVayipidrw^i 
g^ii^^l]lli8t:imiahdipmpi0sed ,tb Mmjy 
jll, who kindly but firmly 'rdfused;lhia}hg\ili 0 g.'ihimij«>; 
h^gn 8l?iPbblMb^4iWhf!P ■!?)?«■ )hd8l5d!! of fib bniilniiiadd' no 
of f 30 d od lira ii ibuTorli Jfo.'-na .aiM won 
"My dear,” g§j4r^ep,nip#ifSjt“whyadid;n!t ypuUakeiliihe) 
fprtEe^fipit nTfP# miigh|t''ijhYP)rlearnfidi to.toveiJiihl'jVhd is 
all ..^^e;,((jo 5 i^d^,yfj^%, 18 n|ilfiyou:xdfe ypKe,r;;twdnty!taiK pf flon’fl 
ydu'i^pi^e^ptp v^ptp,c®fiispd . JlasMer / Browhi;«bm6-. 

ye^rgl ggp^jiaj^l:) |i^^.pH-,felbmP,.;yohijt:hut:M Godfrey; isl 
mori bru: rYlinor:! -i- il •dm bfimii ; 
.[(,^g)jon,’^ WPift8»4'>don;lll i<i)iv4; hhnjialaiii 

unless I can love him.i$B,r;M8ipi$i;Joye9l Tpmml'i .wSlll notii 
bMHil-^TiJOV boobni ?.i ii'^ .Troolf j-.dLf boifcror ''.ao.f*' 
p, ,39 ,po , jppyp iyrg?rpa^d( by .^tohn/'WJidi tfeidl 

l68Bplto;a^g^f^h%;Oi5#‘:oiiWf(WiW '«od thp,to^dSal.<;o[ffiI n 
j I ,“I *m,!pp,pie8^pd^”;6,ai(p,ifeabelle,; can’t ,pp;aTeiii£ar|y4 
cj^n wp,,,08pg?i’i,iflr-,hp( vfm Ahprpiilpokingi. typhblediaritftdf 
Wd, 4 (IWWgdhe, ybjWg 


580 


MISS HOGG 


to infer that he had not heard^ or did not feel interested in 
the matter. 

Erom that time Walgrave seemed a changed man; he 
no longer spoke to Mary in his old and free manner, but 
would look at her with what appeared to be great interest 
and uneasiness; and if their eyes met he felt embarrassed 
and would look another way, never noticing the rosy 
blush on Mary’s cheeks. Mary had ceased to visit the 
farm, to Isabelle’s great sorrow, and she asked her more 
than once why she never came now. 

^^Well, my dear,” was the answer, ^^you are quite accus- 
tomed to your father now and you don’t need me.” 

Some months passed away. There seemed to be a cool- 
ness between the Walgraves and the Eussells. Walgrave 
was beginning to look unhappy once more. Miss Hogg 
made him a visit and noticed that something was wrong. 
^^JSTow, my friend,” she said in her frank, honest manner, 
^Vhat has happened to make you sad? Things don’t 
seem right at Eussell farm either. Be frank with me and 
tell me ; I have my suspicions already.” 

^^Well, Mrs. Eussell, I ’m a fool, that’s all; I have 
learned to care very much for your cousin Mary, and I 
suppose that I have somehow betrayed myself, and she is 
no longer the same with us as she used to be; she never 
comes here now and Isabelle is quite unhappy about it, 
and so am I, Mrs. Eussell.” 

^^But how did all this come about?” asked Miss Hogg, 
now Mrs. Eussell, though it will be best to continue to 
call her Miss Hogg so as not to get mixed. 

"^^Well, it dates three months back, when John and 
Isabelle were discussing Mary and the offer of marriage 
she had received from Mr. Godfrey, and her refusal of it. 
It gave me a shock and opened my eyes to the fact that I 
should miss her greatly; and from that time I have felt 
embarrassed in her presence and there seems to be a cool- 
ness between us; it is all my fault.” 

^^Yes,” replied Miss Hogg, ^^it is indeed your fault. 
Did it never occur to you that Mary might care for you 
a little ? Mind, she has not told me ; not a word has passed 
between us concerning 3^ou.” But Miss Hogg did not tell 
Walgrave that Katy had told her how matters stood, and 
theit if Walgrave continued to believe that Mary was' 


THK AMERICAN HEIRESS 581 

offended with him ]\Iary was in a false position, and she 
had made np her mind to set things right. 

^^0, Mamie/^ he said, it were only possible 
^^Everything is possible,’^ she replied; ^^and if I have 
made a mistake about Mary it will be best for you to know 
how matters stand between you two. And here ’s a chance 
for you. Do you see Mary and Isabelle just passing the 
gate? She will not come in, but she does not know that 
I ’m here. Come along with me ; we will meet them ; you 
will be supposed to be taking her home.^^ And they left the 
house just as Isabelle was kissing Mary good-by. 

^^Wait a moment, Mary;^^ called Mamie; ^^I ^m coming 
with you;^^ and Mary had to wait. They all walked 
together for some time; then Miss Hogg paired off with 
Isabelle, who had much to say to her; and so Mary and 
Walgrave had to walk together. Mary tried hard to keep 
up a conversation with him, but he seemed to be pre- 
occupied. Then he said suddenly, as though he had made 
up his mind, ^^Are you offended with me, Miss Eussell?^' 
^^Ho, Mr. Walgrave; how could I be? You have always 
been kind and considerate to all of us. Why should you 
think so?^^ 

^^0, Miss Eussell, if you knew what is passing in my 
mind you would never forgive me.^^ 

Mary’s cheeks were very rosy; she felt that some- 
thing was coming, but she did not answer ; her silence gave 
Walgrave courage, and, placing her hand on his arm, he 
led her to the old seat under the apple tree where Mrs. 
Hogg had sat that evening when Mamie met her cousin 
Tom for the first time; and there Walgrave had an ex- 
planation with Mary, which seemed to have terminated to 
the satisfaction of both ; for half an hour later they walked 
to the house arm in arm and looking as happy as could be. 
The old people were pleased, but not surprised. When 
Isabelle was told she kissed and hugged Mary, saying, 
^^You dear little mamma, now we shall have you all the 
time.” Mary blushed and returned Isabelle’s kisses. Wal- 
grave was pleased to see that his choice added to Isabelle’s 
happiness. 

Six months later Mary and Walgrave were married 
in the village church, quite en famille. Mrs, Hogg, Mamie, 
and her husband came to the wedding. 


HOGa 


' .io lyrs ,GOi,)i^:oq o-dJu ni oi'.v/ vi];: ■ ini xitvi ppbfifjTto 

Mary was peae^uuy l^ppy; s^l'ie.liad 
she th 

aTO •’^omahj.ihai'pyi , HWich^me; little 

q»te;jil^e|3|t^ pad; ^s ihf; ye^-y^i 

•VjSriaijAsgMk; railed hm paHrlie f0'g,9tli,i^^so^s,^| 
tog-S^jiglfe ,4tiUi,§|)yrtsB^dh4(,wit^^ M^^ihejj^ji; wh^.^eyg'f 
4itlSd7p^i^ls||^|fig,-al?phtl:,Misf asj^ gljill 

i,lj9u^9?hetitftfi 90>' a4i%ff£y»}Xy,oi,4iJ;ti,fei|5isselHf[ Bcf 
fefeer'^ttlk)iiv,e,rii^^66; dg ^h9,,^gf^5;|ig§sfjljl,j,, 
but they..rarf,o^rowij]!g ig^kM ffi‘at®fd.sETl 

IXwMstym' T-hey,i4re[wgUj;f,vtjtedvto ;ea(3fe,93t49S. .. Jidto-and 
Jsa'lpslJe flf;e f^iged jftnd «?j{pg5^;du,beiymaT^ied'-ii?,;gn(:5^^ijer 
yeay. i;ilsafegtfe,is.eigl^tge,pi,yeg.rgpld;,;|j^ -jol rinje-oi 

te; jush aFr.md„,fj:om„tLadj ,g9id;g9;p>dpy 
aaptp%cjflg,i I^ady vfiqj-enop’^ii giarrkgp, dp 
gPS^erji;..^ lXbiad. fcer,j|ady(^hig,ihag apt d^epft^djs^jxBotnted 

afteh ?J|kf oSIaHtieriiaa<ghed,.a3,;¥H:P,a4i fel4ette?,i,j,§hg 

eam«ijferg#it!.ali'ifteilb5ipkp,,fJiPjiadj:Katyi.el^gdilpng,agp, 

g^p,,iB;stiiXiiiprry aad ^bp-h^s 

ad^]bM;#aywausgut<iorW€^jlyfBplMSdoa feai^i&RFiPstlfl 

of the best lawyers in New York, and he still; ,],i,vp^;i}n 
<^^J^nteng]Sy^Bljie*i ?y(?pkly0H>l '^r Tienflo^®!?? rfelhPpfiand 
with his wife and paMgftivd^id-kft P#JnMfil4gowyi)ftR^ 
PtefpnfP^lLpTd ;Md#gW9ry9.^34n§,daii]pajigT;'^jt-rthe 
tiffie. of^Mdlhkjifaa gladrjskPrrdidbnpk ntfift dtiWioo fciiv/ ’utid t 
oil Jia4y8Mdhtgiompryr;®^:]rdPd<^iWAe,od^J|^,,^4 
Bi«?elXj,y!pp hftye ,4f{pight;!tb •Mj®SoadjPf| ypajii^iaabaa^d ; jkp 
ifiifc«Rr#j?t jg^tkjpairafldia handaouipippe,];.., f,,;,{ v.^oi r 
-xa l^I)flRlopgwe( .yras .jlepspdrdo; sgp ; theffi! ^9Ph, ■MdikfP 
aiwra)5a;diiggl.pp,.aiiewrpspRB4eHc;g(Iwith 
}lQl|[,!fkSjtyflit.i.i|j9;[ dspfep],^ :t |cp<poiygdf;hpTSjoiR<)Spt9Pnj;8apd 
tl)pi|igk^oi|jgP(jbp®tifqfit]}4t:sfeenadked,b%-ftPpt)iA\i[yM 

pq^pe Jqyi.i^Byqnp,r!th;i;l3e .go :lqyply.^.diexf,.p,q^ti,pgplied 
sJwSMl:&.i“5<Pok' in? ypup ,qwn,4qq^hgtgl?g?>^ fqy-^eapi.’di.,, I 
0£llTfe3j^PF3i^!#rPf^tiU WtA'.^r-.p¥^gyilvqj^li^ip,T£f 4gr;-y 
liW n.q^saEitP Kstyiand. her. busb?p,d,,,flgitq,,?)Dnten,tf4j 
Pstedfegf §y?)4iMdi;qq,gq fftjr, ,l)pt,,a,s, 4prgy;,gqK^,;,thp 
the merrier when yon have plenty to give them. 

h'.lTQ&f°W?# %nf^sra tpansfeijrqdf tpud^^^^gray^ 'by 
m- ..'Pbe Aad, also.yq^qpsifld.AiaipyewPWi 
detepdTO.rMpkrlj S?iyi?lalFiy#M£ 


pleasure to get it back again, for be pertftwj heheycd 


THE AMERICAN HEIRESS 


583 


it to be at the bottom of the sea ; and they both laughed at 
the recollection of those times. They were all happy now 
so that the sight of it could not bring back sad memories. 
When Mary was told about it she joined heartily in the 
laughter* 

Jack, the shoeblack and detective, became in due time 
a great detective in London; and he declares that during 
all his experience he never had a case to compare with 
that of Miss Hogg, the clever American heiress. 


THE END. 





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